Portable fire pit

• US 5,785,046 A
• Filed: 08/09/1996
• Issued: 07/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gregory D. Colla
• Original Assignee: Gregory D. Colla
• Inventors: Colla, Gregory D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yeung, James C.
• Application Number:
  US08/694,519
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 126/9 R, 126/25 R, 126/151, 126/153, 126/148, 126/9 A, 126/9 B, 126/25 B, 126/305, 312/259, 312/258
• US Class Current: 126/9.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 2037/0777 with foldable construction for storage or transport purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0763 Small-size, portable barbecues
• CPC Class Codes: F24B 1/202 specially adapted for travelling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/928 Cooking stoves using biomass

Abstract

The portable fire pit structure includes two foraminous front and rear wall panels that constitute shallow pans defined by peripheral flanges to the mutually facing edge portions of which flanges are attached opposed foldable left and right foraminous wall panel portions medianly hinged whereby the front and rear wall panels may be moved toward each other while the hinged foldable foraminous wall panels fold inwardly to permit collapse of the structure into a compact unit for storage and/or portability. An ash pan is provided insertable into the portable fire pit when extended for use to catch and retain ashes generated from burning wood, for instance, and brackets are provided for selectively retaining a fuel support grate spaced above the ash pan. A detachable grill structure on which food to be cooked may be supported during a cooking operation is also provided. Since the burning of any fuel in an enclosed portable structure such as the one described generates a considerable amount of heat, a heat deflector assembly is provided within the portable fire pit structure for absorbing part of the intense heat generated at the core of the fire, thus shielding the outer foraminous walls of the fire pit from such intense heat.

Claims

1. A portable collapsible fire pit amendable to portability and storage in collapsed condition and susceptible to selective extension for use in a selected location as either a fire pit or a barbecue grill, comprising:

a) a four-sided housing having front, rear, left and right side wall selectively defining and enclosing on four sides a cubicle space within which flammable fuel may be disposed and ignited to generate flames;

b) two of said four side walls of the housing comprising unitary quadrilateral front and rear parallel metallic panels confronting one another and having top, bottom, left and right edge portions;

c) the remaining left and right side walls each comprising a pair of quadrilateral metallic side wall panel portions pivotally connected to one another and selectively movable between a collapsed condition in which said side wall panel portions of each pair are parallel to one another and an extended condition in which said side wall panel portions lie in a common plane, corresponding side wall portions of each said pair thereof pivotally connected to said left and right edge portions of said confronting front and rear metallic panels;

d) whereby said first mentioned front and rear metallic wall panels may be selectively movable between a collapsed condition in which said front and rear parallel metallic panels and said pairs of pivotally connected side wall panel portions lie in relatively close parallel juxtaposition, and an extended condition in which said front and rear parallel panels lie spaced apart a distance correlated to the extended width of said pairs of pivotally connected side wall panel portions each of which in extended condition lie perpendicular to said front and rear wall panels;

e) said front and rear side wall metallic panels including mutually reaching mounting flanges on their top, bottom, left and right edge portions; and

f) a food supporting foraminous grilling rack detachably mounted on the top mounting flanges of said front and rear side wall panels when said housing is in extended position of use.

2. A portable collapsible fire pit amenable to portability and storage in collapsed condition and susceptible to selective extension for use in a selected location as either a fire pit or a barbecue grill, comprising:

a) a four-sided housing having front, rear, left and right side walls selectively defining and enclosing on four sides cubicle space within which flammable fuel may be disposed and ignited to generate flames;

b) two of said four side walls of the housing comprising unitary quadrilateral front and rear parallel metallic panels confronting one another and having top, bottom, left and right edge portions;

c) the remaining left and right side walls each comprising a pair of quadrilateral metallic side wall panel portions pivotally connected to one another and selectively movable between a collapsed condition in which said side wall panel portions of each pair are parallel to one another, and an extended condition in which said side wall panel portions lie in a common plane, corresponding side wall portions of each said pair thereof pivotally connected to said left and right edge portions of said confronting front and rear metallic panels;

d) whereby said first mentioned front and rear metallic wall panels may be selectively movable between a collapsed condition in which said front and rear parallel metallic panels and said pairs of pivotally connected side wall panel portions lie in relatively close parallel juxtaposition, and an extended condition in which said front and rear parallel panels lie spaced apart a distance correlated to the extended width of said pairs of pivotally connected side wall panel portions each of which in extended condition lie perpendicular to said front and rear wall panels;

e) said front and rear side wall metallic panels including mutually reaching mounting flanges on their top, bottom, left and right edge portions; and

f) handles are mounted on the top mounting flanges of said front and rear side wall panels.

3. A portable collapsible fire pit amenable to portability and storage in collapsed condition and susceptible to selective extension for use in a selected location as either a fire pit or a barbecue grill, comprising:

a) a four-sided housing having front, rear, left and right side walls selectively defining and encasing on four sides a cubicle space within which flammable fuel may be disposed and ignited to generate flames;

b) two of said four side walls of the housing comprising unitary quadrilateral front and rear parallel metallic panels confronting one another and having top, bottom, left and right edge portions;

c) the remaining left and right side walls each comprising a pair of quadrilateral metallic side wall panel portions pivotally connected to one another and selectively movable between a collapsed condition in which said side wall panel portions of each pair are parallel to one another and an extended condition in which said side wall panel portions lie in a common plane, corresponding side wall portions of each said pair thereof pivotally connected to said left and right edge portions of said confronting front and rear metallic panels;

d) whereby said first mentioned front and rear metallic wall panels may be selectively movable between a collapsed condition in which said front and rear parallel metallic panels and said pairs of pivotally connected side wall panel portions lie in relatively close parallel juxtaposition, and an extended condition in which said front and rear parallel panels lie spaced apart a distance correlated to the extended width of said pairs of pivotally connected side wall panel portions each of which in extended condition lie perpendicular to said front and rear wall panels;

e) said front and rear side wall metallic panels including mutually reaching mounting flanges on their top, bottom, left and right edge portions; and

f) a plurality of housing support leg structures mounted on said bottom mounting flanges of said front and rear side wall panels.

4. A portable collapsible fire pit amenable to portability and storage in collapsed condition and susceptible to selective extension for use in a selected location as either a fire pit or a barbecue grill, comprising:

a) a four-sided housing having front, rear, left and right side walls selectively defining and enclosing on four sides a cubicle space within which flammable fuel may be disposed and ignited to generate flames;

b) two of said four side walls of the housing comprising unitary quadrilateral front and rear parallel metallic panels confronting one another and having top, bottom, left and right edge portions;

c) the remaining left an right side walls each comprising a pair of quadrilateral metallic side wall panel portions pivotally connected to one another and selectively movable between a collapsed condition in which said side wall panel portions of each pair are parallel to one another and an extended condition in which said side wall panel portions lie in a common plane, corresponding side wall portions of each said pair thereof pivotally connected to said left and right edge portions of said confronting front and rear metallic panels;

d) whereby said first mentioned front and rear metallic wall panels may be selectively movable between a collapsed condition in which said front and rear parallel metallic panels and said pairs of pivotally connected side wall panel portions lie in relatively close parallel juxtaposition, and an extended condition in which said front and rear parallel panels lie spaced apart a distance correlated to the extended width of said pairs of pivotally connected side wall panel portions each of which in extended condition lie perpendicular to said front and rear wall panels;

e) means are provided supported on at least said front and rear metallic wall panels when in extended position for catching and retaining ashes from expended fuel; and

f) said means for catching and retaining ashes comprises a quadrilateral pan including a metallic bottom plate circumscribed by an integral perpendicular flange, and a metal heat deflector assembly detachably mounted on said metallic bottom plate spaced from said circumscribing integral perpendicular flange.

5. A portable collapsible fire pit amenable to portability and storage in collapsed condition and susceptible to selective extension for use in a selected location as either a fire pit or a barbecue grill, comprising:

a) a four-sided housing having front, rear, left and right side walls selectively defining and enclosing an four sides a cubicle space within which flammable fuel may be disposed and ignited to generate flames;

b) two of said four side walls of the housing comprising unitary quadrilateral front and rear parallel metallic panels confronting one another and having top, bottom, left and right edge portions;

c) the remaining left and right side walls each comprising a pair of quadrilateral metallic side wall panel portions pivotally connected to one another and selectively movable between a collapsed condition in which said side wall panel portions of each pair are parallel to one another and an extended condition in which said side wall panel portions lie in a common plane, corresponding side wall portions of each said pair thereof pivotally connected to said left and right edge portions of said confronting front and rear metallic panels;

d) whereby said first mentioned front and rear metallic wall panels may be selectively movable between a collapsed condition in which said front and rear parallel metallic panels and said pairs of pivotally connected side wall panel portions lie in relatively close parallel juxtaposition, and an extended condition in which said front and rear parallel panels lie spaced apart a distance correlated to the extended width of said pairs of pivotally connected side wall panel portions each of which in extended condition lie perpendicular to said front and rear wall panels;

e) an ash catching and retention pan pivotally mounted on the lower edge portion of one of said front or rear metallic wall panels and selectively deployable between an extended position of use in which said ash pan lies perpendicular to said side walls and a retracted position for storage in which said ash pan lies parallel to the side wall on which it is pivotally mounted; and

f) said ash catching and retention pan including a quadrilateral metallic bottom plate circumscribed by an integral perpendicular flange, and a metallic heat deflector assembly detachably mounted on said metallic bottom plate spaced from said circumscribing integral perpendicular flange.

6. A portable collapsible fire pit amenable to portability and storage in collapsed condition and susceptible to selective extension for use in a selected location as either a fire pit or a barbecue grill, comprising:

a) a four-sided housing having front, rear, left and right side walls selectively defining and enclosing an four sides a cubicle space within which flammable fuel may he disposed and ignited to generate flames;

b) two of said four side walls of the housing comprising unitary quadrilateral front and rear parallel metallic panels confronting one another and having top, bottom, left and right edge portions;

c) the remaining left and right side walls each comprising a pair of quadrilateral metallic side wall panel portions pivotally connected to one another and selectively movable between a collapsed condition in which said sidewall panel portions of each pair are parallel to one another and an extended condition in which said side wall panel portions lie in a common plane, corresponding side wall portions of each said pair thereof pivotally connected to said left and right edge portions of said confronting front and rear metallic panels;

d) whereby said first mentioned front and rear metallic wall panels may be selectively movable between a collapsed condition in which said front and rear parallel metallic panels and said pairs of pivotally connected side wall panel portions lie in relatively close parallel juxtaposition, and an extended condition in which said front and rear parallel panels lie spaced apart a distance correlated to the extended width of said pairs of pivotally connected side wall panel portions each of which in extended condition lie perpendicular to said front and rear wall panels;

e) means provided supported on at least said front and rear metallic wall panels when in extended position for catching and retaining ashes from expended flammable fuel;

f) a metallic heat deflector assembly detachably mounted on said means for catching and retaining ashes; and

g) said metallic heat deflector assembly comprising a first pair of generally rectangular plates spaced apart and mounted adjacent said front and rear side metallic panels, and a second pair of generally rectangular plates spaced apart and mounted adjacent said left and right side wall panels, the plates of said second pair perpendicularly and detachably interlocking with the first pair to form a rectangular box-like receptacle spaced from the associated side walls of said housing to provide an air gap therebetween.

7. The portable collapsible fire pit according to claim 6, wherein front, rear, left and right side wall panels of said housing are foraminous, and said first and second pairs of rectangular heat deflector plates are foraminous.

8. The portable collapsible fire pit according to claim 6, wherein said means for catching and retaining ashes includes a quadrilateral pan including a metallic bottom plate circumscribed by an integral perpendicular flange, said metallic bottom plate including at least two slots adjacent opposite left and right edge portions thereof, said second pair of generally rectangular plates each including a bottom edge adapted to impinge on said metallic bottom plate of the ash pan and including at least one integral tab projecting from said bottom edge and projecting through an associated one of said two slots formed in the bottom of the ash pan to provide an apertured tab portion accessible from the opposite side of the bottom of the ash pan, and means detachably engaging the apertures in said projecting tab portions to detachably lock said assembly of metallic heat deflector plates to said ash pan.

9. The portable and collapsible fire pit according to claim 8, wherein said first pair of generally rectangular plates each includes a bottom edge adapted to impinge on said metallic bottom plate of the ash pan and includes at least one integral tab projecting from said bottom edge, at least one slot formed in said bottom plate associated with said at least one integral tab whereby said associated tab projects through said slot to retain the heat deflector plate from which the tab projects against lateral displacement in relation to said bottom plate of the ash pan.

10. A portable collapsible fire pit amenable to portability and storage in collapsed condition and susceptible to selective extension for use in a selected location as either a fire pit or a barbecue grill, comprising:

a) a four-sided housing having front, rear, left and right side walls selectively defining and enclosing on four sides a cubicle space within which flammable fuel may be disposed and ignited to generate flames;

b) two of said four side walls of the housing comprising unitary quadrilateral front and rear parallel metallic panels confronting one another and having top, bottom, left and right edge portions;

c) the remaining left and right side walls each comprising a pair of quadrilateral metallic side wall panel portions pivotally connected to one another and selectively movable between a collapsed condition in which said side wall panel portions of each pair are parallel to one another and an extended condition in which said side wall panel portions lie in a common plane, corresponding side wall portions of each said pair thereof pivotally connected to said left and right edge portions of said confronting front and rear metallic panels;

d) whereby said first mentioned front and rear metallic wall panels may be selectively movable between a collapsed condition in which said front and rear parallel metallic panels and said pairs of pivotally connected side wall panel portion lie in relatively close parallel juxtaposition, and an extended condition in which said front and rear parallel panels lie spaced apart a distance correlated to the extended width of said pairs of pivotally connected side wall panel portions each of which in extended condition lie perpendicular to said front and rear wall panels;

e) front and rear side wall metallic panels including mutually reaching mounting flanges on their top, bottom, left and right edge portions; and

f) means interposed between said means for catching and retaining ashes and said mutually reaching bottom mounting flanges for retaining said means for catching and retaining ashes against relative movement in relation to at least front and rear side wall panels to thus rigidify the housing.