Collapsible cooking device

• US 9,657,950 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2012
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boucher, Paul Michael
• Original Assignee: Boucher, Paul Michael
• Inventors: Boucher, Paul Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Savani, Avinash
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZUBERI, RABEEUL I
• Application Number:
  US13/456,713
• Publication Number:
  US 20120204852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,853 Days
• Field of Search: 126 30, 126 65, 126 9 R, 1261552, 126 9 B, 126 29, 126 25 T, 220 428, 220 431
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0763 Small-size, portable barbecues
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 1/16 with special adaptation for travelling, e.g. collapsible

Abstract

A fire-resistant collapsible enclosure can include three or more sidewalls coupled with a cross plate internal to the enclosure. A top portion of the enclosure can include a non-linear edge configured to be an airflow outlet, or a bottom portion of the enclosure can include a non-linear edge configured to be an airflow outlet. The fire-resistant collapsible enclosure can be configured for use as an oven, a stove, or a smoker. In an example, two or more of the fire-resistant collapsible enclosures can be used together, such as where one enclosure is configured as a heat source and a second enclosure is configured as a smoker. In an example, the cross plate can include a throttle to control airflow through the enclosure.

Claims

1. A collapsible portable cooking stove comprising:

a pair of substantially rectangular first side plates, each first side plate comprising;

a port configured to allow airflow and combustion, the port extending from a top edge of the first side plate toward a bottom edge of the first side plate, the bottom edge being opposite the top edge;

a mating tab extending from a side edge of each first side plate, the mating tab extending laterally away and along the side edge in a first direction to form a tab slot having a bottom; and

a locking tab having a bottom surface extending continuously and laterally away from and along the side edge to a tip and in a second direction opposite the first direction; and

a pair of substantially rectangular second side plates, each second side plate comprising;

a mating slot disposed near a side edge of each second side plate and configured to receive the mating tab of one of the pair of first side plates for engagement, the mating slot being positioned on each second side plate such that a top of the mating slot is aligned with the bottom of the tab slot when one of the pair of second side plate is engaged and horizontally aligned with one of the pair of first side plates; and

a locking slot configured to engage the bottom side of the locking tab of one of the pair of first side plates to form a force-fit interaction, the locking slot being positioned on each second side plate such that a bottom of the locking slot is slightly above the tip of the locking tab when one of the pair of second side plates is engaged and horizontally aligned with one of the pair of first side plates;

wherein;

engagement of the locking slot and the locking tab deforms the locking tab or stretches the side edge of one of the second side plates to allow the bottom of the locking slot to slip over the tip of the locking tab;

engagement of the locking slot and the locking tab opposes shifting motion in the first direction by the pair of second side plates relative to the pair of first side plates thereby allowing application of a lifting force to the pair of second side plates without disengaging the pair of second side plates; and

the first and second side plates are collapsible and stackable into a substantially flat configuration by disengaging the locking slot and tab and shifting the pair of second side plates relative to the pair of first side plates.

2. A heating apparatus, comprising:

a fire-resistant collapsible enclosure comprising;

a plurality of substantially vertical sidewalls having an assembled position defining an outer perimeter of the apparatus and an enclosure volume;

each sidewall including;

a bottom edge having a plurality of extensions protruding therefrom configured to support the sidewall and form an airflow inlet between the plurality of extensions defining an inlet area; and

a top edge having an extension protruding therefrom, the extension of the top edge comprising;

a slot configured to receive a cross member; and

a recess configured to support a grate;

wherein a sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls comprises a side edge having;

a mating tab extending along and laterally away from the side edge in a first direction; and

a locking tab having a bottom surface extending continuously and laterally away from the side edge in a second direction opposite the first direction;

wherein another sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls comprises;

a mating slot configured to receive the mating tab of the sidewall for engagement; and

a locking slot configured to engage the bottom side of the locking tab of the sidewall to form a force-fit interaction;

wherein the extensions of the top edge form a plurality of airflow ports defining an outlet area;

a first cross plate coupled with the substantially vertical sidewalls at an intermediate location between the top and bottom support portions and configured for supporting a fuel above the airflow ports;

a second cross plate coupled with the substantially vertical sidewalls and arranged above the airflow ports;

wherein the airflow ports are in fluid communication and are configured to allow airflow through the enclosure; and

wherein a ratio of a port area to the enclosure volume can be readjusted by blocking all or a portion of the plurality of airflow ports.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein one of the substantially vertical sidewalls includes a bottom support portion and a top support portion.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus has three substantially vertical sidewalls, each vertical sidewall being comprised of substantially rectangular planar side plate.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each of the three substantially rectangular planar side plates has opposing first and second side portions at substantially vertical side edges;

wherein each of the three substantially planar side plates includes a first coupling feature disposed in the first side portion and a second coupling feature disposed in the second side portion;

wherein the first coupling feature of a first one of the three side plates in configured to mechanically couple with a corresponding second coupling feature of an adjoining one of the three side plates; and

wherein the first coupling feature of the first one of the three side plates and the second coupling feature of the adjoining one of the three side plates are configured to be engaged and secured when the side plates are laterally shifted relative to one another.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second cross plate is configured to engage with an edge of the top support portion, and wherein the top support portion includes an extension configured to be received in a mating feature that is disposed along an edge of the second cross plate.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first cross plate or the second cross plate comprises a food-safe surface, and wherein the sidewalls, the first cross plate, and the second cross plate comprise a material that is dimensionally and oxidatively stable over multiple heating and cooling cycles, wherein a heating and cooling cycle includes a temperature change from about zero degrees Celsius to at least about 500 degree Celsius over a period of several seconds.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a total mass of sidewalls, first cross plate, and second cross plate, is less than 2.5 pounds.

9. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of the first cross plate and the second cross plate comprises multiple cutouts such that the first cross plate and the second cross plate each comprise about 30 percent open area.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a throttle plate, the throttle plate comprising multiple cutouts corresponding to the cutouts of the first cross plate, wherein the throttle plate is movably engaged with the first cross plate along corresponding planar faces such that a total open area of a combination of the throttle plate and the first cross plate is continuously variable between a substantially open configuration and substantially closed configuration.

11. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a cross member supported by the top support portion.

12. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a smoker box configured to be mechanically coupled to the top support portion.

13. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the substantially vertical side plates include:

first and second substantially rectangular planar male sides plates, each of the male side plates including male coupling feature disposed adjacent each of two opposing side edges; and

first and second rectangular planar female side plates, each of the female side plates including a female couple feature disposed adjacent each of two opposing side edges;

wherein male and female couple features are configured to correspondingly engage.

14. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the type of airflow ratio is adjusted depending upon the type of fuel, weather conditions, and possible uneven terrain.

15. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the ration of the inlet area to the enclosure volume ranges from approximately 0.28 to approximately 0.44.

16. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the ratio of the outlet area to the enclosure volume ranges from approximately 0.46 to approximately 0.07.