Abstract:
A free-standing, portable, multi-function fire pit/barbeque is disclosed, adapted to transition between an enclosed fire pit configuration and an open configuration which serves as a portable barbeque; the invention comprising, in one embodiment, on outer sleeve, an inner sleeve, a gridiron, and a baseplate.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to fire pits, and more particularly relates to a portable combination fire pit/barbeque. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Barbeques and fire pits are known in the art. Most are cumbersome and fixed. None are easily disassembled to facilitate cleaning or offered with interchangeable outer shell designs. None of the devices taught by the prior art can be effortlessly configured to serve a variety of functional purposes, such as grilling, fire pit cooking, lighting, etcetera; and, most are not portable. 
         [0005]    The barbeques and fire pits known in art also largely consist of functional, bulky metallic receptacles that are devoid of decorative features and which do not appeal aesthetically to consumers and potential buyers. Many of the barbeques known in the industry comprise numerous components, from chains, to hinges, to lids, to fasteners of every kind; which components are not durable or sufficiently fire-resistant to withstand the stresses of constant or prolonged use. The numerous components in the barbeques and fire pits in the pior art makes assembly, use and disassembly tedious. 
         [0006]    It is therefore desirable that a portable, durable, multi-functional, easily disassemblable, barbeque which is aesthetically pleasing be provided. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for free-standing portable multi-function fire pit. Beneficially, such a fire pit would overcome many of the difficulties with prior art by providing a means for easily reconfiguring the fire pit to serve alternately as a barbeque or fire pit, by providing means for ease of transportation, and by further providing, inter alia, durability and ornamentality to consumers. 
         [0008]    The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available information management systems. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide a free-standing, portable, multi-function fire pit comprising: an outer sleeve comprising an elongated generally cylindrical metallic member, resistant to temperatures of more than 240 degrees Fahrenheit, with an upper rim and a lower rim, with a longitudinal axis extending through the length of the outer sleeve, the outer sleeve comprising an engraved textual design, the outer sleeve disposed around a baseplate such that the outer sleeve rests on ground. 
         [0009]    The fire pit further comprises an inner sleeve detachably connectable to the baseplate, the inner sleeve comprising an elongated, grated, generally cylindrical metallic member, comprising a top inner rim and a bottom inner rim, the bottom inner rim comprising leaves detachably affixed to a baseplate. 
         [0010]    The fire pit further comprises a circular gridiron disposed above the inner sleeve on the top inner rim for barbequing food. The fire also comprises said baseplate comprising a metallic disk of a diameter larger than the diameter of the inner sleeve oriented orthogonally to the longitudinal axis, the metallic disk comprising a plurality of aperatures for receiving one of the legs of the inner sleeve and leaves of a briquette collar; the baseplate comprising a plurality of inner legs disposed below the metallic disk for engaging the ground. 
         [0011]    The fire pit may further comprise said briquette collar comprising a plurality of leaves projecting downwardly for detachable insertion into a baseplate. Additionally, the circular gridiron may be disposed above briquette collar. 
         [0012]    The inner sleeve may be grated in a helical geometric shape, and the outer sleeve may further comprise a plurality of legs projecting downwardly from the lower rim for engaging the ground. 
         [0013]    In some embodiments, the engraved textual design protuberates from the outer sleeve, and in some embodiments, the fire pit further comprises one or more clevis pin(s) for detachably securing one or more of the plurality of leaves to the baseplate. 
         [0014]    The top inner rim may comprise brackets for securing the gridiron, and the outer sleeve may be detachably connectable to the baseplate using one of a clevis pin, a buckle, and a clamp. 
         [0015]    The base plate disk may be octagonal in shape in some embodiments, and may comprise one or more stanchions for internally elevating a fuel above the ground and surrounding vegetation in other embodiments. 
         [0016]    In some embodiments, the base plate comprises a metallic tubular member surrounding the longitudinal axis for receiving fuel, the metallic tubular member permanently affixed to the baseplate. In other embodiments, the metallic tubular member affixed to the base plate comprises an upper rim for securing the gridiron in an alternative configuration. 
         [0017]    These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1A  is an elevational perspective view of a free-standing, portable, multi-function fire pit in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 1B  is a second elevational perspective view of a free-standing, portable, multi-function fire pit in accordance with the present invention; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is an exploded bottom view of the baseplate of a free-standing, portable, multi-function fire pit in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. 
         [0023]    Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention. 
         [0024]      FIG. 1A  is an elevational perspective view of a free-standing, portable, multi-function fire pit  100  in accordance with the present invention. The fire pit  100  comprises four principal sections: an outer sleeve  102 , an inner sleeve  104 , a gridiron  106 , and a baseplate  108 . 
         [0025]    The outer sleeve  102 , inner sleeve  104 , gridiron  106 , baseplate  108 , and the subparts of each, are all substantially described below in relation to  FIG. 1B-2 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 1B  is a second elevational perspective view of a free-standing, portable, multi-function fire pit  100  in accordance with the present invention. The fire pit  100  comprises five principal modules/sections: an outer sleeve  102 , an inner sleeve  104 , a gridiron  106 , and a baseplate  108 . The outer sleeve  102  comprises an upper rim  109 , engraved text  110 , and outer legs  112   a - c . The inner sleeve  104  comprises grating  116  and leaves  118   a - c . The baseplate  108  comprises aperatures  120   a - d  and inner legs  122   a - b.    
         [0027]    The present invention is adapted to be easily assembled and disassembled. 
         [0028]    The outer sleeve  102  comprises an elongated, tubular metallic member formed of material capable of withstanding temperatures of at least 240 degrees Fahrenheit, such as iron or steel. The outer sleeve  192  comprises an upper rim  109  and a lower rim. A longitudinal axis extends throughout the length of the outer sleeve. When the other sleeve sits upright surrounding the baseplate, the longitudinal axis extends from center of the baseplate  108  in an upwardly direction through the center of the outer sleeve  102 . 
         [0029]    The outer sleeve  102  comprises an engraved textual design  110 , or engraved text  110 , which in some embodiments, might include registered trademarks (e.g. either word marks or stylized marks) of universities, commercial enterprises, non-profit organizations, individuals, or even flags of countries, and the like. In other embodiments, the engraved text  110  consists of a logo. In some embodiments, the engraved text  110  may be protuberant with respect to the outer sleeve  102  (e.g. the text itself may be defined by protuberances on the outer shell). 
         [0030]    The fire pit  100  is thus “themed,” in that the fire pit  100  may be exclusively associated with a particular theme, such as a university, company, country and the like. The outer sleeve  102  may be color coordinated with the trademark reflected in the engraved text  110 , such as color coordinated with the colors of a university or high school. 
         [0031]    The outer sleeve  102 , in the shown embodiment, is disposed around the baseplate  108  in its fully assembled configuration such that the outer sleeve  102  rests on the ground. The present invention is configured in its fire pit configuration by sliding the outer sleeve  102  over and around the baseplate  108  when the baseplate  108  is resting on the ground. 
         [0032]    In some embodiments, the outer sleeve  102  and/or the inner sleeve  104  are square across their cross-sections from a top-perspective. In other embodiments, the outer sleeve  102  and/or the inner sleeve  104  are triangular, rectangular, octagonal, or polygonal (or any combination of the above) from a cross-sectioned top-perspective view. 
         [0033]    The inner sleeve  104  comprises a semi-enclosed receptacle for housing burning fuel. The inner sleeve  104  is detachably connectable at its base to the baseplate  108 . Like the outer sleeve  102 , the inner sleeve  104  comprises an elongated, generally cylindrical metallic member with a top inner rim and a bottom inner rim. The inner sleeve  104 , however, is grated as shown such that the inner sleeve  104  only partially encloses a fire lit within it. The bottom inner rim is detachably affixed to the baseplate  108  in the shown embodiment, but may be detachably affixed to a briquette collar in other embodiments. 
         [0034]    The grating of the inner sleeve  104  comprises a plurality of horizontal and vertical bars, which cross and/or overlap and/or interlock and/or intersect. In some embodiments of the inner sleeve  104 , the grating may be helical, in that its horizontal bars circle and define the inner sleeve  104  helically. In other embodiments, the grating may comprise irregular or repeating patterns of various kinds known to those of skill in the art. In still further embodiments, the inner sleeve  104  may comprises stiff wire, bars running vertically without horizontal counterparts, or even chicken wire. 
         [0035]    The inner sleeve  104  comprises, in the shown embodiment four leaves projecting downwardly for detachable insertion into a baseplate  108  as shown. The leaves  118   a - c  comprise legs, or rigidly affixed plates, jutting downward from the inner sleeve for insertion into the baseplate  108 . The leaves  118   a - c  curve, in the shown embodiment, with the curve of the inner sleeve  104  which axially surrounds the longitudinal axis. 
         [0036]    In some embodiments of the present invention, the diameter of the inner sleeve  104  is predetermined to exceed the diameter of a tank of propane or other fuel source housed within the inner sleeve  104 . 
         [0037]    The height of the inner sleeve  104  may be adjustable. The inner sleeve  104  may be telescopic. In some embodiments, the inner shell  104  may comprise one or two flanges disposed on the top or bottom of the inner shell  104 , or disposed alongside the inner shell  104 . The flanges may serve as grips for lifting the inner sleeve  104  or supporting the gridiron  106 . 
         [0038]    The gridiron  106  is circular in the shown embodiment, and disposed above the inner sleeve on the top inner rim for barbequing food. The gridiron  106 , or grill, is well known to those of skill in the art, and may comprise any number of two-dimensional geometric shapes, including square, rectangular, triangular, octagonal, and the like. 
         [0039]    The baseplate  108  comprises a metallic disk of a diameter larger than the diameter of the inner sleeve. The metallic disk comprises a plurality of aperatures, slots, grooves, notches, ruts, or the like, for receiving either the leaves  118   a - c  of the inner sleeve  104  or substantially similar leaves of a briquette collar. The leaves  118   a - c  may interlock with the baseplate  108 . The metallic disk of the baseplate  108  is oriented orthogonally to the longitudinal axis. 
         [0040]    In some embodiments, the baseplate  108  is manufactured from stone, petrified wood, or heat-resistant polymers. The fire pit  100  is designed such that each of its four sections are independently replaceable if destroyed, damaged, or worn out. 
         [0041]    The baseplate  108  comprises a plurality of inner legs  122   a - c  disposed below the metallic disk for engaging the ground. 
         [0042]    The inner legs  122   a - b  comprise ground-engaging components. In some embodiments, the inner legs  122   a - b  may be skirted, or may jut outward for increased stability of the fire pit  100 . 
         [0043]    The upper rim  109  may be notched. The upper rim  109  of the outer shell  102  may also be knurled to provide grip to a user needing to slide the outer shell axially such that the outer shell falls into place, or to provide grip for fire pit  100  accessories. 
         [0044]    In some embodiments, the baseplate  108  comprises one or more stanchions mounted to the disk for internally elevating the fuel above ground level and flammable surrounding vegetation. In other embodiments, the baseplate comprises 
         [0045]      FIG. 2  is an exploded, bottom view of a free-standing, portable, multi-function fire pit  200  in accordance with the present invention. The fire pit  200 , in the shown embodiment, comprises a baseplate  108 , leaves  118   a - d , inner legs  122   a - d , a briquette collar  201 , a clevis pin  202 , and a cotter pin  204 . 
         [0046]    The baseplate  108 , the leaves  118   a - d , and inner legs  122   a - d  are substantially described above in relation to  FIGS. 1A-1B . 
         [0047]    The briquette collar  201  comprises, in the shown embodiment four leaves projecting downwardly from the briquette collar  201  for detachable insertion into a baseplate as shown. The leaves comprise legs, or rigidly affixed plates jutting downward for insertion into the baseplate  108 . The leaves curve, in the shown embodiment, with the curve of the briquette collar  201  which comprises a single wall axially surrounding the longitudinal axis. The leaves of the briquette collar are substantially similar to the leaves  118   a - c  of the inner sleeve  104 . 
         [0048]    The briquette collar  201  substantially comprises a single tubular sleeve, surrounding the longitudinal axis, which is shorter in height than it is in diameter. In some embodiments the briquette collar is grated. In other embodiments, the briquette collar comprises gaps in its perimeter to allow fuel being burned within the briquette collar to breach. 
         [0049]    The briquette collar  201  defines a hollow recess with an open top. The briquette collar  201  may receive, or house, fuel such as wood, coal, propane tanks, methane tanks, butane tanks, naphtha tanks, alcohol, and/or other flamables. 
         [0050]    In some embodiments, the inner sleeve  104  detachably connects to the briquette collar  201  instead of the baseplate  108 . 
         [0051]    The leaves  118   a - c  in this embodiment comprise the leaves of the briquette collar  201 , and may be detachably affixed to the baseplate  108  with a clevis pin  202  and a cotter pin  204  as shown. In other embodiments, the clevis pin  202  may be moused instead of cottered. 
         [0052]    One or more of the leaves  118   a - d  may be detachably affixed to the baseplate  108  using the clevis pin  202  and the cotter pin  204  as shown. The clevis pin  202  traverses the inner leg  122   d  through an aperature in the leg  122   d , and is secured with the cotter pin  204 . In other embodiments of the present invention, the clevis pin  202  is moused. 
         [0053]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.