Abstract:
A fire-pit assembly kit includes a fire-pit insert packaged with a plurality of blocks arranged around the fire-pit insert. A method of transporting the kit includes placing the kit on a pallet and moving the pallet from a first location to a second location. A method of preparing the kits for delivery includes assembling multiple kits on multiple pallets and stacking the pallets.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/622,887, filed Apr. 11, 2012 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/622,489, filed Apr. 10, 2012. The disclosures of the prior applications are considered part of (and are incorporated by reference in) the disclosure of this application. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This document relates to systems and techniques for packaging and/or shipping fire pit assembly systems. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Fire pits are designed to contain a fire and prevent it from spreading. Fire pit designs range from pits dug into the ground to elaborate gas burning compilation of stone, brick, and/or metal. Pre-made and portable metal fire pits are a common form of fire pit and can be purchased from a store. Assembled fire pits can be assembled from a combination of bricks, stone, concrete, and/or metal. Because assembled fire pits are very heavy, they are essentially locked into wherever they are placed. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    A fire-pit assembly kit includes a fire-pit insert packaged with a plurality of blocks arranged around the fire-pit insert. A method of transporting the kit includes placing the kit on a pallet and moving the pallet from a first location to a second location. A method of preparing the kits for delivery includes assembling multiple kits on multiple pallets and stacking the pallets. 
         [0005]    The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fire pit. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  shows an example of a fire pit assembly kit. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  shows a fire-pit insert, a swiveling grate, and how the fire-pit insert and the swivel grate can be assembled. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a swivel grate. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a packaged grate. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  shows possible accessories that may be included with the fire pit assembly kit. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  shows an example of how fire pit assembly kits may be arranged for shipping. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    This document describes systems and techniques for packaging and/or shipping fire pit assembly systems. The total weight of an assembled fire pit can be heavy. An assembled fire pit may be too heavy for workmen to carry by hand. Moreover, the desired placement for a fire pit may be remote from a path from where a vehicle can transport an assembled fire pit. Accordingly, this document describes fire-pit assembly systems designed to permit workmen to individually transport the elements of the fire pit from a vehicle access point to the fire-pit assembly location, while also allowing for an efficient shipping and distribution of multiple fire-pit assembly kits that minimizes damage to the elements of the kits. 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an assembled fire pit  100  according to certain embodiments. A fire pit having this arrangement is disclosed in further detail in U.S. Design Pat. No. D648,428, which is hereby incorporated by reference. The fire pit  100  includes a plurality of blocks  110  arranged circumferentially around a fire-pit insert  120 . The fire-pit insert  120  can keep the blocks  110  from overheating and cracking if the fire pit is suddenly cooled (e.g., by rain or a bucket of water). The fire pit  100  can optionally include a grate  130  and a post  140  for holding the grate  130  over the fire pit. The grate  130  can include a handle  134  used to pivot the grate  130  relative to the fire-pit insert  120 . Fire pits can also include a variety of additional accessories, some of which are described below. 
         [0015]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the fire-pit insert  120  can be circular. In other embodiments, the fire-pit insert  120  can have non-circular shapes. For example, the fire-pit insert  120  can be ovular, oblong, egg-shaped, or rectangular. The fire-pit insert can have a single-piece construction. The fire-pit insert  120  can be made of metal. In some embodiments, the fire-pit insert  120  can include 10 gauge steel. In still other embodiments, the fire ring insert can be made out of ceramic material. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the fire-pit insert has smooth sides. In other embodiments, the fire-pit insert  120  can have textured or corrugated surfaces. The fire-pit insert can also include an upper lip as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0016]    The blocks  110  can be made out of a variety of materials. In some embodiments, the blocks  110  include high-density concrete. In some embodiments, the blocks  110  are made out of cut stone. In some embodiments, the blocks  110  include a ceramic material. For example, the blocks  110  can be clay bricks. The blocks  110  can be mortarless blocks, adapted allow for the blocks to remain stacked in the desired configuration without adhesive or mortar despite normal environmental forces. For example, mortarless blocks  110  can each have a weight of at least 10 pounds and have a coefficient of friction of at least 0.6 under dry conditions. In some embodiments, the coefficient of friction between two blocks can be greater than 1.0 under dry conditions. In use, however, mortarless blocks can be secured together with an adhesive to minimize shifting of the blocks  110  due to environmental exposure. 
         [0017]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the blocks  110  can have a trapezoidal shape with a flat upper surface and a flat lower surface. The blocks  110  can have dimensions such that a predetermined number of blocks  110  can be arranged in a ring without substantial gaps between each block. In some embodiments, the circular fire-pit insert  120  is dimensioned to fit within the ring of blocks. In some embodiments, the fire-ring insert has an outer diameter that is less than 3 inches smaller than the inner diameter of the ring of blocks. In some embodiments, the fire-pit insert has an outer diameter that is less than 1 inch smaller than the inner diameter of the ring of blocks. In other embodiments, the blocks  110  can have other shapes. In some embodiments, the blocks can have other shapes adapted to be arranged in a ring with adjacent block surfaces placed against each other without substantial gaps. For example, the sider surfaces of the blocks  110  could be curved. In other embodiments, the blocks  110  can be irregularly shaped and be intended to have gaps therebetween. In still other embodiments, the blocks  110  can be rectangular. 
         [0018]    The fire pit  100  can include multiple layers of block rings. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the fire pit  100  can include 3 layers of block rings. As shown, the multiple layers of blocks have a height that is greater than the height of the fire-pit insert  120 . The blocks in adjacent layers can be aligned or offset from each other when the fire pit  100  is assembled. In other embodiments, the fire pit  100  can include a single layer of blocks formed into a block ring around the fire-pit insert  120 . 
         [0019]    A fire-pit assembly kit  200  for making a fire pit  100  can include the fire-pit insert  120  and a plurality of blocks  110 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the fire-pit assembly kit  200  includes the blocks  110  arranged around the fire-pit insert  120 . As shown, the blocks  110  are arranged to form a block ring around the fire-pit insert  120  within the packaging  210 . The packaging  210  can be plastic material  210  wrapped around and/or encasing the fire-pit insert  120  and the plurality of blocks  110 . In other embodiments, different packaging materials can be used. In some embodiments, accessories and/or tools for assembling the fire pit can be included in the fire-pit assembly kit  200 . These accessories and/or tools can be packaged in the middle of the fire-pit insert  120 . Possible accessories and tools are further discussed below. 
         [0020]    The blocks  110  are arranged round the fire-pit insert  120  in the packaging  210  and during shipment of the fire-pit assembly kit  200  so that the blocks  110  can protect the fire-pit insert  120 . For example, multiple fire-pit assembly kits can be stacked on top of each other, as shown in  FIG. 7 . The placement of the rings of blocks  110  around each fire-pit insert  120  can prevent the weight of another fire-pit assembly kit  200  from damaging the fire-pit insert  120  of the fire-pit assembly kit stacked below. The blocks  110  within a fire-pit assembly kit can be stacked higher than the height of the fire-pit insert  120 . The fire-pit assembly kit  200  can be place on a pallet  220  to facilitate the shipment of the fire-pit assembly kit  200  to a vehicle access point where the kit  200  can be disassembled and moved piece-by-piece by workmen to a fire-pit assembly location where the fire pit is assembled. 
         [0021]    The fire-pit assembly kit  200  can be mortarless within the packaging  210  and/or on the pallet  220 . Within the kit  200 , the blocks  110  are not bonded together (e.g., by mortar or adhesive). As discussed below, the blocks  110  can later be assembled into a finished fire pit with our without adhesive or mortar to hold the bricks together, but the fire-pit assembly kit  200  includes blocks that are loose with respect to each other. Within the kit  200 , the plurality of blocks  110  and the fire-pit insert  120  are held together by the packaging material  210 , friction, and gravity. In some embodiments, multiple layers of block rings are stacked such that the blocks  110  in adjacent layers are approximately aligned. For example,  FIG. 2  depicts blocks  110  in adjacent layers that are approximately aligned. In other embodiments, blocks in adjacent layers are offset. 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  shows an expanded view of how a fire-pit insert  120  can be attached to a swiveling grate  130 . The grate  130  includes barrel  132  adapted to receive a swivel grate post  140 . The swivel grate post  140  also passes through a second barrel of a mounting bracket  142 . The swivel grate post  140  is pivotally secured to the grate  130  and the mounting bracket  142  so that the mounting bracket and the grate  130  can swivel with respect to each other. A cap screw  155  can be used to pivotally secure the grate  130 , the mounting bracket  142  and the swivel grate post  140 . The grate  130 , swivel grate post  140 , mounting bracket  142 , and the associated screws, nuts, and bolts can be placed within the fire-pit insert  120  in the fire pit assembly kit  200 . 
         [0023]    As shown, a mounting bracket  142  can be attached to an inside surface of the fire-pit insert  120 . As shown, the mounting bracket  142  can be attached by carriage bolts  151  and hex nuts  152 . The carriage bolts  151  can pass through apertures  122  in the fire-pit insert  120 . In other embodiments, the mounting bracket  142  can be welded to the inside wall of the fire-pit insert  120 . In some embodiments, the fire-pit assembly kit can come with the mounting bracket  142  attached to the fire-pit insert. In other embodiments, the fire-pit assembly kit can come with the mounting bracket  142  and the associated bolts and nuts disassembled. 
         [0024]    A handle  134  can be secured to the grate  130 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the handle is secured to the grate at a corner  135  of the grate  130  by a nut  136 . The handle  134  can also be placed within the fire-pit insert  120  in the fire pit assembly kit  200 . 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , a grate can also include different arrangements. Grate  430  includes a handle  434  that is welded onto a corner of the grate  430 . Grate  430  also includes a barrel  434  to allow for a pivotal attachment to a fire-pit insert. Grate  434  can also be placed within the fire-pit insert  120  in the fire-pit assembly kit  200 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a packaged grate. The packaged grate  130  can also include the other parts shown in  FIG. 3  in the box  510 . For example, screws, bolts, and nuts can be included in cardboard roles  520 . In other embodiments, the grate  130  can be packaged alone. The packaged grate  500  can be placed inside the fire-pit insert  120  in the fire pit assembly kit  200 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 6  shows possible accessories that may be included with the fire-pit assembly kit  200 . As shown, gloves  610  can be included to help a workman carry and arrange the blocks  110 . An adhesive  620  can be included in the kit  200  to allow the workman to secure the blocks  110  together in the desired locations. As noted above, the blocks  110  can be mortarless in that they can be assembled without the use of adhesive or mortar and still withstand normal environmental exposure. An adhesive, however, can optionally be used to further resist environmental forces. In other embodiments, mortar can be included in the kit  200  addition to or in place of adhesive. Instructions  630  for assembling the fire pit and/or marketing materials  635  can also be placed in the kit  200 .  FIG. 6  also depicts a mounting bracket  142  and associated bolts  151  and nuts  152  and a swivel grate post  140 , which can also be included in the kit  200 . Additional items optionally included in the fire-pit assembly kit  200  include shovels, grilling utensils, and/or fire manipulation tools. 
         [0028]      FIG. 7  shows an example of how fire pit assembly kits may be arranged for shipping. As shown, the fire pit assembly kits can be placed on pallets  720  and stacked. As discussed above, the pallets  720  can facilitate shipment to an access point where workmen can disassemble the kit  200  and move the individual elements of the kit to an assembly point. The pallets  720  can be picked up using forklifts or similar equipment. Accordingly, the kits  200  can be assembled and placed on pallets  720  at a manufacturing facility, moved to a shipping container, moved from a shipping container to a store shelf or warehouse by a forklift, and then moved from the store or warehouse to a vehicle for delivery to the access point. The manufacturing facility, the store and/or warehouse, and the final access point can be more than 1 mile apart, more than 10 miles apart, or more than 100 miles apart. Kits  200 , each having a pallet underneath, can be stacked on top of each other within the shipping container, on a warehouse shelf, on a store shelf, or even at an access point. In some cases, two, three, four, five, or more pallets each containing an at least partially assembled fire pit arrangement (e.g., a fire pit assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ) can be stacked on top of each other. 
         [0029]    Although certain embodiments are described in detail, other embodiments are within the scope of the claims below.