Abstract:
The chuckwagon camp box of this invention includes a portable kitchen comprised of a top lid, drop down front and rear shelves, each of which is separately hinged to a base unit. The underside of the base unit has provisions to removably attach the support legs or permanently attach folding legs. The underside of the base unit also is provided with a plurality of casters to facilitate transport of the camp box. The base unit also includes an integral cooktop accessible from the front shelf and a plurality of work surfaces, multi-purpose compartments and a utensil drawer. Extendable, multi-purpose racks may be withdrawn from both ends of the base unit to serve as towel racks or shelves with the attachment of the included covering trays. A dishwashing center accessible from the rear shelf is also provided. The front and rear shelves are separated by an upstanding, transverse panel in the box, so that the front cooking area and rear washing areas are functionally isolated, separate work stations.

Description:
This application claims priority of our prior, abandoned provisional patent application, Ser. No. 60/246,428, filed on Nov. 6, 2000, entitled “Portable Chuckwagon Camp Box,” which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention generally relates to portable camping equipment and more particularly to a chuckwagon camp box containing a portable, fully integrated kitchen used for cattle drives and roundups, military bivouacs, camping, picnics, barbecues and other activities and events at outdoor, undeveloped locations. 
     2. Related Art 
     During the regular activities of today&#39;s ranches and farms there is a frequent need to prepare meals at remote outdoor locations where the amenities of a conventional kitchen are not available. Such amenities would normally include electric power, cooktops, ovens, dishwashers, and the myriad other modern day appliances. Similarly, outdoor cooking is needed for recreational camping, picnicking, barbecues, “tailgate” parties, military bivouacs and the like. 
     The ease and indeed pleasure of preparing and partaking of outdoor meals is often compromised by the difficulty and complexity of assembling the necessary equipment and supplies for preparing meals. It is usually difficult to locate, and always awkward to pack, the needed stove, pots and pans, coffeepot, plates, cups, utensils, napkins, and the variety of foods, ingredients and condiments. Once these supplies are located, then comes the task of packing them in various containers such as cardboard boxes, paper and plastic bags, plastic storage boxes and the like. With this mixture of types and sizes of containers it is difficult to pack them compactly and securely in the transport vehicle. Consequently the contents are likely to be damaged as they become loose and shift during transport over the typically rough terrain encountered during such enterprises. 
     Perhaps even more perplexing is the challenge of repacking these supplies and equipment after their use and prior to moving to the next location or returning home. One has to recall which container was originally used for each item and as everyone has experienced, what was once packed neatly in a container almost never fits when repacked. 
     As a result, there is a critical need for a system and equipment for compactly providing and securely transporting a portable kitchen. Such a kitchen must include all necessary cooking equipment and storage. It must be portable, ruggedly built, and as lightweight as possible, yet easy to setup and repack. After the equipment is set up for use it must be sturdy and stable. The kitchen food preparation and work surfaces must be at convenient height to facilitate kitchen functionality. Additionally these surfaces must be durable and easy to clean. The overall challenge in providing such a system is to optimize its utility and versatility with respect to its portability, size, weight, manufactureablity and cost. 
     Such a capability will substantially facilitate preparations for camping, picnicking and the like by thoroughly organizing the equipment and supplies. In effect a portable kitchen can serve as a physical “check list” of the equipment that is required for outdoor cooking. This not only assures that all needed equipment is available but that superfluous equipment is not packed. A further benefit is that when the portable kitchen is not being used it can serve to store most of the kitchen equipment that is typically used only for camping and picnicking. 
     As will be reviewed in the following paragraphs, various devices have been offered to achieve some of the above described capabilities and benefits. However, none fully meet these long felt needs as well as does the presently disclosed invention. 
     Hewitt (U.S. Pat. No. 3,289,664) discloses a portable kitchen having a countertop, sink, water faucet, drain, water pump, water supply tank, a stove unit, a “means for supplying heat energy” to the stove and miscellaneous storage areas. This seemingly complete kitchen unit suffers from a lack of compactness and less than complete packaging in that when prepared for transport the water faucet and sink are left unprotected. In addition, valuable space is used for the sink and water “system” which is best provided separately to reduce the volume, weight and transportability of the unit. Also transporting any form of water system subjects the unit to excessive weight, and leakage and potential damage to other items being transported or stored. 
     Criswell (U.S. Pat. No. 3,543,890) offers a “Camper Kitchen” comprising shelves, storage and retractable legs. No cooking capability is provided and storage space and compartmentation is minimal. 
     Bernier (U.S. Pat. No. 3,915,529) describes a portable kitchen in a foldable “suitcase like” structure that includes storage, a sink, a stove, a water supply system, external “wings” (work areas), and a plurality of retractable legs. The “foldable” approach to the design of this kitchen detracts from its stability during use. In addition the support legs are stored outside the folded assembly thus exposing them to damage and or entanglement with other objects. The shortcomings with respect to incorporating a water supply system as described above for Criswell&#39;s patent also apply to Bernier&#39;s disclosure. 
     Myers (U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,554) presents a foldable kitchen unit that includes an icebox, cooking stove, wash basin, and storage compartments. The bumper of a station wagon or truck must support this unit. No support legs are provided. The use of this unique design is limited since it must be attached to the bumper of a stationwagon or truck. 
     Lee et.al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,349,708) disclose a kitchen sink unit comprising two work surfaces, hinged to fold on top of each other. One surface holds a dishwasher bucket, the other a detachable grille. No cooking or storage capability is provided and thus this patent does not meet the minimum requirements for a portable kitchen. 
     Peterson et. al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,157) discloses a portable kitchen having a table, detachable sink and storage compartments. The unit has no integral cooking capability. The unit is made from a plastic material and folds compactly into a box. The lid of the box serves alternatively as a sink or stand for the main storage box. However, to position the work surfaces at a convenient height, it must be placed on a suitable table or elevated in some other fashion. 
     Dany (U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,400) has invented a portable camp kitchen having a “cooker” unit (cooktop burners), a telescopic lighting means, and storage. The unit folds into its own box shaped container after first telescoping the light into its storage location. Although providing many features similar to the extant invention, Dany does not offer a comparable variety and extent of storage compartments and work surfaces. In addition Dany does not offer convenient, waist high storage or windscreen capabilities. 
     The camp box/portable kitchen described herein is an optimum design of the key required kitchen capabilities innovatively constructed and packaged into a portable, compact, rugged and yet light weight unit. In its transport and storage configuration the unit forms a smooth, box like container free of entangling protuberances. A plurality of lifting and transport aids are also provided. When the unit is to be set up as a kitchen, it is simple and quick to unfold and/or set up into a sturdy, fully capable and easy to use kitchen assembly. 
     In summary, none of the known portable kitchens include the unique and innovative combination of structural and operational features and benefits of the invention disclosed herein. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     As can be clearly seen from the preceding review of the prior related art, there is a long standing need for a readily portable kitchen that provides for storage, cooking, dishwashing and clean up in a compact, rugged and easily set up unit. As described, numerous attempts have been made to accomplish these objectives, with varying degrees of success. Often a potential improvement in any one aspect of the kitchen, for example inclusion of an integral water supply, tends to increase the overall weight beyond acceptable limits and introduces new problems, for example potential water leakage. 
     Also, in trying to achieve these sometimes conflicting objectives, the approach becomes overly sophisticated leading to more difficult fabrication techniques, expensive components, and increased weight and set up complexity. The invention described herein optimizes the performance of the portable kitchen in the areas of portability, compactness, weight, and overall capability to meet key kitchen requirements at remote locations. This design with its innovative packaging scheme and rugged construction form a highly effective kitchen system. 
     The camp box of this invention includes a portable kitchen comprised of a top lid, drop down front and rear shelves, each of which is separately hinged to a base unit. The underside of the base unit has provisions to removably attach the support legs, or to permanently attach folding legs. The underside of the base unit also is provided with a plurality of casters to facilitate transport of the camp box. 
     The base unit also includes an integral cooktop and a plurality of work surfaces, multi-purpose compartments and at least one utility/utensil drawer. Extendable, multi-purpose racks may be withdrawn from both ends of the base unit to serve as towel racks or supports for shelves with the attachment of the included covering trays for shelf tops. The drop-down front and rear shelves are separated by an upstanding transverse panel in the box, so that the front and rear shelves, when down in their opened-for-use position, are functionally isolated from one another by the transverse panel. This way, cooking oils and ashes from the cooktop available from the front shelf do not so readily contaminate or interfere with a washing station conveniently placed on the back shelf. Also this way, especially when the top lid is hinged at the top of the upstanding panel, and adapted to temporarily lock in the vertical position there, the upstanding panel and the vertical top lid serve as an effective windbreak for the cooktop. 
    
    
     These and many other features and attendant advantages of the invention will become apparent, as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed descriptions and accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the back side and right end of one embodiment of the camp box of the present invention in its closed configuration, ready for storage or transport. 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the front and the left end of the camp box depicted in FIG. 1 in its deployed and set-up configuration, ready for use as a portable kitchen. 
     FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the back side and the right end of the camp box depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 in its deployed configuration, ready for use as a portable kitchen. 
     FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the separate support legs in their set up position for one alternative embodiment of the camp box of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a rear view of the camp box depicted in FIG. 4 showing the stowage of the disassembled support legs and the lamppost. 
     FIG. 6 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the present invention in portability mode. 
     FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the front side and left end of another alternative embodiment of the camp box of the present invention with permanently attached, fold-down legs. 
     FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the back side and the right end of the camp box depicted in FIG.  7 . 
     FIGS. 9A and 9B are top and bottom views, respectively, of the camp box depicted in FIGS. 7 and 8 with slide-out shelf supports deployed. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of camp box  1  is shown in its closed configuration, ready for storage or transport. Referring now to FIG. 2, camp box  1  is shown in its deployed configuration, ready for use as portable kitchen  10 . Portable kitchen  10  is comprised of top lid  12 , drop down front shelf  14  and drop down rear shelf  16 . Top lid  12  is hingedly connected to transverse, upstanding panel  105  by top hinge  23 . Top lid  12  is retained in its vertical raised position by pneumatic strut  88  connected between underside  12   a  of top lid  12  and base unit  20 . Front shelf  14  is hingeably connected to base unit  20  by front hinge  22 . Rear shelf  16  is hingeably connected to base unit  20  by rear hinge  24 . Front shelf  14  and rear shelf  16  are supported in their deployed (i.e. lowered) position by support wires  14   a ,  16   a  respectively. Underside  21  of base unit  20  has support bar  29  for when the closed box is resting on the ground. Next to rear shelf  16  are upwardly-extending leg retainers  25 ,  26  to secure identical, removable support legs  30 ,  31  for storage and transport (see FIG. 5, below). 
     Continuing reference to FIG. 1 and 2, in the preferred embodiment of camp box  1 , underside  21  of base unit  20  is provided with a pair of casters  45  and support bar  29  to facilitate transport camp box  1 . Left lift strap  33 , and right lift strap  34  (shown in FIG. 3) further facilitate transport. 
     Continuing reference to FIG. 2, camp box  1  also includes an integral cooktop  35  secured to first work surface  40  and an additional second work surface  42 . To provide additional versatility, camp box  1  also includes first multi-purpose compartment  50  and second multipurpose compartment  52 , the later having a drop down door  54  connected to compartment  52  by hinge  56 . A third compartment  53  and utensil drawer  60  are also provided, compartment  53  further including drop down door  55  connected to compartment  53  by hinge  57 . Drop down doors  54 ,  55  are secured in their closed position by commercial magnetic latches (not shown). 
     In the preferred embodiment, first rack  80  and second rack  81  are provided on the underside  12   a  of top lid  12  for the convenient storage of condiments, spices and other items used in cooking. Paper towel rack  84  is also conveniently located on underside  12   a  of top lid  12 . Additional racks and accessories may be placed elsewhere in and on camp box  1  at the discretion of the users however care must be exercised in their placement to assure that the several folding components retain their functionality. 
     With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, extendable, multi-purpose rack supports  64 ,  66  may be withdrawn from base unit  20  to serve as towel racks, garbage bag holders or shelves. Removable trays  64   a ,  66   a  provide a shelf capability for extended left and right rack supports  64 ,  66 . Lamppost  70  is removably secured to base unit  20  by insertion into hole  72  in base unit  20  and hole  74  (not shown) in first work surface  40 . Holes  72  and  74  are aligned so that lamppost  70  is supported vertically. Lamppost  70  has a horizontal lamp support portion  71  to support lamp  73 . Lamppost  70  is placed between retainers  25 ,  25  for storage and transport when the box is closed. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, a dishwashing center  90  may be established using lower rear shelf  16  supported by support wires  16 a. Removable dishwashing bowl  91  is placed on shelf  16  and third rack  82  is removably secured to upper edge  20   a  of base unit  20 . Third rack  82  is conveniently placed above dishwashing bowl  20  for the storage of detergent, scouring pads, scrub brushes and the like. Additional dishwashing and rinsing bowls may also be accommodated on shelf  16  at the discretion of the user. Alternatively dishwashing bowl  91  may be removed and shelf  16  used for any other purpose, cooking or otherwise. For storage and transport of camp box  1 , dishwashing bowl  91  may be placed at any suitable location within camp box  1 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 4, support legs  30 ,  31  are identical and are each formed by upper leg sections  30   a ,  31   a  and lower leg sections  30   b ,  30   c ,  31   b ,  31   c . Lower leg section  30   b  is connected to one end of upper leg section  30   a  and lower leg section  30   c  is connected to the opposite end of upper leg section  30   a . Similarly lower leg section  31   b  is connected to one end of upper leg section  31   a  and lower leg section  31   c  is connected to the opposite end of upper leg section  31   a . Lower leg section  30   b  is pivotably connected to lower leg section  31   b  and lower leg section  30   c  is pivotably connected to lower leg section  31   c . Upper leg section  30   a  is flexibly connected to upper leg section  31  a by leg strap  37  to assure that legs  30 ,  31  are properly positioned to fit securely between ridges  21   a ,  21   b  on underside  20 . 
     Generally none of the camp box dimensions are critical and thus the dimensions may be altered for specific intended uses. In fact, a family of different sized and configured camp boxes is envisioned. Smaller and lighter weight units may be more suitable for individual or family use and larger sized units may be produced for commercial, ranching or military applications. Similarly the number, size and shape of the included work surfaces, compartments, drawers, racks, etc. may be altered to meet specific application requirements. 
     In the preferred embodiment, camp box  1  in its closed configuration has an overall length of 39 inches, a height of 16 inches and a depth of 20 inches. Extendable racks  64 ,  66  extend approximately 11 inches and they are approximately 14 inches wide. Lamppost  70  has a nominal diameter of 0.4 inches and a height of 38 inches. Lamp support portion  71  is 10 inches long. Support legs  30 ,  31  place second work surface  42  at a nominal height of 36 inches. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the structural elements (base unit  20 , lid  12 , shelves  14 ,  16 , compartments  50 ,  52 ,  53 , doors  54 ,  55 , drawer  60 ) of camp box  1  are formed from 0.63 inch thick aluminum. All surfaces are painted for additional protection of the sheet metal and to facilitate clean up. All hinges  22 ,  25 ,  56 ,  57  are aluminum, and of the piano type. Extendable racks  64 ,  66  are formed from flat galvanized aluminum bars, 0.188 inches thick, 0.75 inches wide. Support legs  30 ,  31  are formed from 1 inch galvanized steel tubing and are unfinished. Racks  80 ,  81 ,  82  are standard commercially available vinyl coated steel wire. Paper towel rack  84  is a commercial plastic unit. Lift straps  33 ,  34  are woven fabric. Casters  45  are standard commercial pieces as is latch  18 . Lamppost  70  is formed from 0.4 inch stainless steel rod. Support wires  14   a ,  16   a , are stainless steel, nominally {fraction (1/16)}-inch diameter. Utensil drawer  60  is supported on standard commercial drawer slides. Cooktop  35 , in the preferred embodiment, is a commercial two burner, propane fueled camp stove. 
     It is important to note that variations in the materials, their sizes and coatings are permissible as long as the alternatives meet the required durability, functionality and strength requirements of the intended application of the camp box. 
     Camp box  1  is extraordinarily simple and easy to transport, setup (deploy) and breakdown for transport and storage. With reference to FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3 ,  4  and  5 , to set up the camp box, securing strap  27 , which is permanently secured to loop  28   a  and secures rear shelf  16  in its closed position for storage and transport, is removed from loop  28   b . Legs  30 ,  31  and lamppost  70  are removed from retainers  25 ,  26  and assembled with leg connecting strap  37  in place. The camp box is then lifted onto legs  30 ,  31  placing legs  30 ,  31  securely between ridges  21   a ,  21   b . Rear shelf  16  is then secured with its two connecting support wires  16   a  and third rack  82  is removed from its storage location and secured to upper edge  20   a  of base unit  20 . Latch  18  is then released and top lid  12  is raised, strut  88  securely and automatically retains top lid  12  in the upright, raised position. Typically raised top lid  12  is used as a windscreen by orienting camp box  1  with the working surfaces  40 ,  42  in the lee of lid  12 . A propane bottle to provide fuel for cooktop  35  is then inserted into third compartment  53  and connected to the cooktop hose termination (not shown). Front shelf  14  is then lowered and secured by its two connecting support wires  14   a . Or, front shelf  14  may be left up during use to help protect cooktop  35  from wind. At the user&#39;s option, extendable racks  64 ,  66  may be withdrawn from camp box  1  and removable trays  64   a ,  64   b  placed on them as needed. Set up is now completed. Breakdown is accomplished by reversing the above steps. 
     Alternative embodiments of the present invention are contemplated. For example, different lay-outs of the front cooking area, with different work surfaces and drawers and cabinets may be provided as depicted in FIG.  7 . Also, different and/or supplemental accessories, such as battery-powered light  101 , may also be provided. 
     Also, for example, different lay-outs of the back washing area, with different compartments and storage areas may be provided as depicted in FIG.  8 . Here, for example, cooking gas bottle  103  is safely stored behind upstanding, transverse panel  105  from the front cooking area. 
     Also, for example, different shelf and shelf support lay-outs may be provided. For example, pull-out drawer supports  107 ,  107 ′, and  109  and  109 ′ as depicted in FIGS. 9A and 9B may be used for the front, back and side shelves. 
     Also, for example, permanently-attached folding legs  111  and  111 ′, instead of the removable legs described earlier, may be provided. In all cases, whether the legs are permanently-attached or removable, the bottom of the instant camp box is adapted so that it may rest evenly and opened for use without deploying the legs at all, for example, in the bed of a pick-up truck or on a picnic table. 
     What is required is that transverse, upstanding panel  105  effectively divide and isolate the front cooking area and front shelf  14  from the back washing area and back shelf  16 . This way, a vertical support is best provided for top hinge  23  and top lid  12 . Also, this way, an effective windbreak is provided for the cooking area, especially when top lid  12  is temporarily locked in its open, vertical position. Also, this way, an effective insolation and protection of the back washing area from the typically dirtier, greasier front cooking area is provided. Also, this way, additional options for storage compartments both in front of and behind the transverse, upstanding panel  105  is provided. 
     Although this invention has been described above with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed particulars, but extends instead to all equivalents within the scope of the following claims.