Fire enclosures with adjustable wind shields

A representative enclosure includes: a base defining an interior configured to receive combustible materials, the base having an aperture defining an opening, which communicates with the interior, the opening being configured to receive therethrough the combustible materials; a spark screen configured to prevent access to the interior via the opening when in a closed position in which the spark screen engages the base, the spark screen being further configured to permit a flow of air into and out of the interior; and a wind shield, mounted to the base, having a shield portion extending upwardly from the base and disposed exterior to the spark screen, the shield portion being movable relative to the base.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The disclosure generally relates to structures for facilitating outdoor fires.

Description of the Related Art

Traditionally, outdoor fires have been formed using locally-available materials, not only for combustion, but also for containment. By way of example, rocks available at a campsite are often used to form a perimeter around an outdoor fire to provide containment for a fire fueled by branches and logs.

Recently, outdoor fires for use in more residential settings have become popular. To meet these desires, various forms of fabricated structures known as “fire pits” have become available. Although meeting with a certain degree of success for their intended uses, these structures tend to be ill-suited for some applications. By way of example, these structures often lack an ability to shield the contained fires from wind.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a device that addresses the aforementioned, perceived needs.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments of enclosures for containing combustible materials of a fire are provided. In this regard, an example embodiment of an enclosure comprises: a base defining an interior configured to receive combustible materials, the base having an aperture defining an opening, which communicates with the interior, the opening being configured to receive therethrough the combustible materials; a spark screen configured to prevent access to the interior via the opening when in a closed position in which the spark screen engages the base, the spark screen being further configured to permit a flow of air into and out of the interior; and a wind shield, mounted to the base, having a shield portion extending upwardly from the base and disposed exterior to the spark screen, the shield portion being movable relative to the base.

In some embodiments, the enclosure further comprises an annular flange mounted to the base, the interior of the base being disposed within a central zone defined by the annular flange; and the wind shield has a mounting portion, disposed below the shield portion, configured to engage the annular flange when the wind shield is in a mounted position.

In some embodiments, the mounting portion of the wind shield has an annular segment disposed in an overlying relationship with the annular flange when the wind shield is in the mounted position.

In some embodiments, the mounting portion of the wind shield has a bearing surface configured to contact an upper surface of the annular flange when the wind shield is in the mounted position.

In some embodiments, the bearing surface is a surface of roller bearing.

In some embodiments, the annular flange extends outwardly from the aperture.

In some embodiments, the enclosure further comprises an annular channel disposed about the interior; and the wind shield has a mounting portion, disposed below the shield portion, configured to extend into the annular channel.

In some embodiments, the annular channel is an upwardly opening channel; and the mounting portion has a downwardly extending wall segment configured to extend into the annular channel.

In some embodiments, the annular channel is defined by a sidewall of the base, which defines the interior, and an outer channel sidewall disposed outboard of the sidewall of the base.

In some embodiments, the annular channel is defined by a sidewall of the base, which defines the interior, and an inner channel sidewall disposed inboard of the sidewall of the base.

In some embodiments, the wind shield is configured to rotate about a central axis of the interior.

In some embodiments, the wind shield spans an angle of at least approximately 90 degrees about a central axis of the base.

In some embodiments, the wind shield spans at least approximately 180 degrees.

In some embodiments, the wind shield spans less than approximately 270 degrees.

In some embodiments, the wind shield extends to a maximum height higher than a maximum height of the spark screen.

In some embodiments, the shield portion of the wind shield is configured as a continuous sheet of material.

Other objects, features, and/or advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiments. The following description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For ease in explanation, the following describes several embodiments of a fire enclosure. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

In this regard, various enclosures for containing combustible materials of a fire are provided. In some embodiments, the enclosure incorporates a wind shield that mounts to a base and which extends upwardly from the base to shield a fire from wind. Advantageously, the wind shield is movable relative to the base and, thus, may be dynamically repositioned to accommodate changes in wind direction.

FIGS. 1A-3depict an example embodiment of an enclosure100. As shown inFIG. 1A, enclosure100incorporates a base102, a spark screen104and a wind shield106. Base102defines an interior108that is configured to receive combustible materials. Interior108exhibits a depth (D) of between approximately 2 and 12 inches, preferably between approximately 8 and 12 inches. In this embodiment, interior108is circular (in plan view) although various other shapes may be used.

Base102, in addition to incorporating one or more optional legs (e.g., leg110) for support, includes an aperture112that defines an opening114. Opening114communicates with interior108and is configured so that combustible materials may be passed through the opening and into interior108for forming a fire.

Spark screen104of this embodiment is a removable spark screen that is configured to prevent access to interior108via opening114when spark screen104is in a closed position (FIG. 2). In the closed position, spark screen104engages base102about a perimeter of opening114to close the opening. Owing to the structure of spark screen104, air is permitted to flow through spark screen104and, thus, into and out of interior108even when spark screen104is in the closed position. In some embodiments, spark screen104incorporates a mesh structure to provide such functionality. Additionally, in some embodiments, spark screen104exhibits a maximum height (HO) of between approximately 0 and 12 inches, preferably between approximately 6 and 12 inches.

Wind shield106is mounted to base102and preferably is removable. Wind shield106includes a mounting portion120, which facilitates mounting of wind shield106to base102, and a shield portion122, which is disposed exterior to spark screen104when the spark screen is in the closed position. Shield portion122extends upwardly from mounting portion120to protrude above base102. Shield portion122exhibits a maximum height (Hs) of between approximately 1 and 12 inches, preferably between approximately 3 and 12 inches. In some embodiments, only a portion of shield portion112exhibits the maximum height (Hs), such as in this embodiment in which Hs is exhibited at a peak124of the wind shield. Notably, in some embodiments, maximum height (Hs) of shield portion122is higher than the maximum height (HO) of spark screen104.

Shield portion112also spans an angle (θ) about central axis130. In some embodiments, the angle (θ) spanned by shield portion112is between approximately 10 and 280 degrees, preferably between approximately 120 and 180 degrees.

In some embodiments, removability of wind shield106may facilitate use of an enclosure without the wind shield and/or interchangeability of wind shields of various designs based on the desire of the user. By way of example, wind shield106shown inFIGS. 1A, 2 and 3is representative of a mountain vista owing to exterior shaping and the incorporation of one or more viewing apertures (e.g., viewing aperture128) that are configured for light to emit therethrough. In other embodiments, other exterior shapes and/or other numbers, sizes and/or shapes of viewing apertures may be provided with a wind shield so that the experience provided by the enclosure may be altered. Additionally, in some embodiments, one or more apertures may be provided to facilitate moving of wind shield106. By way of example, a tool aperture132is provided at an end of shield portion122to facilitate engagement with a fire poker (not shown).

As shown with reference toFIGS. 2 and 3, at least shield portion122of wind shield106is movable from a first position (FIG. 2) to a second position (FIG. 3) as indicated by arrow A, which depicts clockwise movement or rotation of shield portion122about central axis130. Note also that at least shield portion122of wind shield106is movable both clockwise and counter-clockwise relative to base102as indicated by arrows A and B, respectively.

Referring back toFIG. 1A, it is shown that enclosure100incorporates an annular flange140that is mounted to base102. In this embodiment, annular flange140extends radially outwardly from an uppermost portion of base102, which is co-located with aperture112. So configured, interior108is disposed within a central zone142defined by annular flange140.

Mounting portion120of wind shield106engages annular flange140when in the mounted position (FIGS. 2 and 3). In particular, mounting portion120incorporates an annular segment150(see,FIGS. 1A and 1B) that is disposed in an overlying relationship with annular flange140when wind shield106is in the mounted position. Note that, in this embodiment, a lower edge152of spark screen104contacts base102at a position lower (relative to central axis130) than shield portion122and annular segment150. That is, the lower edge152of spark screen104nests inboard of wind shield106when in the closed position.

Mounting portion120also incorporates a wall segment154that extends downwardly from annular segment150. Wall segment154is configured to engage base102to prevent wind shield106from dislodging or falling from the mounted position even during repositioning. In this embodiment, wall segment154engages within an upwardly-opening annular channel156defined between an inner channel sidewall158and a sidewall160of the base. Wall segment154exhibits a maximum height (HM) of between approximately 0.5 and 3 inches, preferably between approximately 1 and 2 inches. Note also that in this embodiment, nesting of spark screen104is facilitated by mounting posts (e.g., mounting post162) that extends inwardly from inner channel sidewall158.

Another embodiment of an enclosure is depicted inFIGS. 4A, 4B and 5. As shown inFIG. 4A, enclosure200incorporates a base202, a spark screen204and a wind shield206. Base202defines an interior208that is configured to receive combustible materials. Base202also includes an aperture212that defines an opening214. Spark screen204is configured to prevent access to interior208via opening214when in a closed position.

Wind shield206is removably mounted to base202and incorporates a mounting portion220, which facilitates mounting of wind shield206to base202, and a shield portion222, which is disposed exterior to spark screen204when the spark screen is in the closed position. Shield portion222extends upwardly from mounting portion220to protrude above base202.

As shown inFIGS. 4A and 4B, enclosure200incorporates an annular flange240that is mounted to base202. Mounting portion220of wind shield206engages annular flange240when in the mounted position. In this regard, mounting portion220incorporates an annular segment250that is disposed in an overlying relationship with annular flange240when wind shield206is in the mounted position. Specifically, an underside252of annular segment250includes a bearing surface260that is configured to contact an upper surface262of annular flange240. In some embodiments, the bearing surface includes the corresponding surfaces of one or more roller bearings (for example, roller bearing264ofFIG. 5).

Mounting portion220also incorporates a wall segment254that extends downwardly from annular segment250. Wall segment254is configured to engage base202to prevent wind shield206from dislodging or falling from the mounted position even during repositioning. In this embodiment, wall segment254engages within an upwardly-opening annular channel256defined between an outer channel sidewall258and a sidewall259of the base. Additionally, nesting of spark screen204is facilitated by mounting posts (e.g., mounting post266) that extends inwardly from sidewall206. It should be noted that in comparison with the embodiment ofFIG. 1, given similar dimensions of the respective bases, spark screen204of the embodiment ofFIG. 4may be of a larger diameter since being able to fill the entire circumference of the base owing to the wind screen being mounted outboard of the sidewall of the base.

FIG. 6depicts another embodiment of an enclosure. In particular, enclosure300incorporates a wind shield306that is configured as a continuous sheet of material (e.g., the wind shield lacks viewing apertures). In contrast to previously described embodiments that exhibit a maximum height (Hs) at a peak, shield portion322exhibits a substantially consistent height along its length. Additionally, shield portion322spans an angle (θ) over more than approximately 180 degrees.

The embodiments described above are illustrative of the invention and it will be appreciated that various permutations of these embodiments may be implemented consistent with the scope and spirit of the invention.