Patent Publication Number: US-8991382-B1

Title: Fire pit that occupies a small space when disassembled

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates, generally, to fire pits. A fire pit provides a safe way to burn logs or other combustible materials. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A campfire built on the ground has several disadvantages. For example, the ground may be wet, making fire-starting difficult. Stacking the logs can also be a haphazard activity that does not result in well-ordered logs. Accordingly, oxygen may not flow into the fire in an optimal manner. Moreover, a campfire may also be desired at a campground that lacks camp fire areas. 
     A fire pit is formed of a suitable metal or a metal alloy and has the advantage of spacing the logs or other combustible materials away from the ground. Fire pits can also be used in campgrounds that lack dedicated campfire areas. 
     The known fire pits lack means for arranging logs in a non-haphazard manner. Perhaps more importantly, conventional fire pits are also of large, bulky construction and cannot be easily taken apart or assembled. Moreover, they occupy a considerable amount of storage space when assembled and not much less when disassembled. 
     There is a need for a fire pit construction that is easy to assemble and disassemble. There is a need as well for a fire pit that occupies a small space when disassembled. 
     However, in view of the art considered as a whole at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art how the needed improvements could be provided. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The long-standing but heretofore unfulfilled need for an improved fire pit is now met by a new, useful, and non-obvious invention. 
     The novel fire pit includes a circular bottom plate, and a circular log-supporting plate having a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the circular bottom plate. The circular log-supporting plate is positioned in substantial axial alignment with the circular bottom plate in vertically spaced, parallel relation thereto. 
     The circular bottom plate has an upstanding flange formed about its periphery to hold ashes atop the circular bottom plate and to prevent or reduce the spread of ashes onto the ground adjacent the fire pit. 
     A plurality of leg members is secured about the periphery of the log-supporting plate and depends therefrom. A plurality of bosses is mounted about the periphery of the circular bottom plate in equidistantly and circumferentially spaced apart relation to one another, just radially inwardly of the upstanding flange. Each of the bosses is adapted to slideably receive a lowermost end of an associated leg member that depends from the circular log-supporting plate. Each leg member of the plurality of leg members has a common length so that the leg members determine the amount of vertical spacing between the circular bottom plate and the circular log-supporting plate. 
     Each leg member of the plurality of leg members has a hollow uppermost end that extends slightly above a plane of the circular log-supporting plate. 
     A plurality of arcuate grates is mounted about the periphery of the circular log-supporting plate. The lowermost end of each arcuate grate is positioned substantially co-planar with the plane of the circular log-supporting plate. A vertically-oriented post is secured to each of the grates, mid-length thereof. Each of said vertically-oriented posts has a lowermost end slideably received within the hollow open end of its associated leg member to releasably connect each grate to the periphery of the circular log-supporting plate. Each grate is generally rectangular in front elevation and arcuate in plan view. 
     A central opening is formed in the circular log-supporting plate in the center thereof. A plurality of arcuate openings is positioned radially outwardly of the central opening in equidistantly and circumferentially spaced apart relation to one another, just radially inwardly of a peripheral edge of the circular log-supporting plate. Each of the arcuate openings is provided to enhance airflow into the combustion area. The arcuate openings may also be used to receive a preselected end of a log so that after a lowermost end of each log is placed in an associated opening, the respective uppermost ends of the logs are tilted toward each other so that they meet at a central location, forming a pyramid. The pyramidal shape enhances oxygen flow into the areas where combustion occurs and also provides a framework that maintains additional logs or other combustible materials in a generally pyramidal shape as such additional combustible materials are added to the fire. 
     A cylindrical shroud has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the central opening. The cylindrical shroud is disposed in axial alignment with the central opening, depends therefrom, and has a preselected length so that the cylindrical shroud does not extend to the circular bottom plate. A strip of metal is disposed in spanning relation to the cylindrical shroud at its lowermost end to support a newspaper or other item that can help start a log fire. 
     A pair of handles is formed integrally with the circular bottom plate in diametrically opposed relation to one another to facilitate manual transportation of the fire pit in its assembled or disassembled configuration. 
     A plurality of legs is mounted about the periphery of the circular bottom plate to hold the circular bottom plate in spaced relation above a support surface. The circular bottom plate must be elevated about three inches (3″) above the ground or other support surface. 
     The novel structure is easily assembled and disassembled. It occupies a small space when disassembled. 
     An important object of the invention is to provide a fire pit that is easily assembled and disassembled and that occupies a small space when disassembled for storage. 
     Another important object is to provide a fire pit that facilitates the free flow of air into the combustion zone to improve the efficiency of combustion. 
     These and other important objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become clear as this description proceeds. 
     The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts that will be exemplified in the disclosure set forth hereinafter and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed disclosure, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the first embodiment in its assembled configuration; 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of the assembled log-supporting plate and bottom plate; 
         FIG. 3B  depicts a modified version of the bottom plate; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view indicating how the novel structure is disassembled preparatory to storage; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view depicting the grates when stored atop the circular log-supporting plate; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view depicting the fully assembled first embodiment when in use; and 
         FIG. 7  depicts a fully assembled second embodiment when in use. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  depicts an illustrative embodiment of the novel fire pit which is denoted as a whole by the reference numeral  10 . 
     Fire pit  10  includes circular bottom plate  12  having upstanding flange  14  formed about its periphery. Upstanding flange  14  serves to hold ashes atop circular bottom plate  12  to prevent or reduce the spread of ashes onto the ground adjacent the fire pit. 
     A plurality of legs, collectively denoted  16 , is mounted about the periphery of circular bottom plate  12  and hold said circular bottom plate in spaced relation above the ground. The preferred spacing is about three inches (3″). 
     Handles  18 ,  18  are formed integrally with circular bottom plate  12  in diametrically opposed relation to one another and facilitate manual transportation of fire pit  10  in its assembled or disassembled configuration. 
     In a preferred embodiment, four bosses, collectively denoted  20 , are mounted about the periphery of circular bottom plate  12  in equidistantly and circumferentially spaced apart relation to one another, just radially inwardly of upstanding flange  14 . However, four bosses are not required; in a simplified embodiment, only two (2) bosses are used and they work just as well as four (4) bosses. 
     Circular log-supporting plate  22  has a diameter that, in this first embodiment, is substantially the same as the diameter of circular bottom plate  12  and is positioned in substantial axial alignment with circular bottom plate  12  in vertically spaced, parallel relation thereto. The amount of vertical spacing is determined by the length of legs, collectively denoted  24 , that are secured about the periphery of log-supporting plate  22 . 
     The lowermost end of each leg  24  is slideably received within a boss  20  when fire pit  10  is in its assembled configuration. The uppermost end of each leg  24  is hollow and extends slightly above the plane of circular log-supporting plate  22  as best depicted in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 A and  3 B. 
     A plurality of arcuate grates, collectively denoted  26 , is mounted about the periphery of circular log-supporting plate  22 . Each grate  26  is generally rectangular but is arcuate when viewed in plan. More particularly, each grate has a predetermined curvature so that a circle having a diameter substantially equal to a diameter of said circular log-supporting plate is collectively formed by the plurality of grates when fire-pit  10  is fully assembled. 
     A vertically-oriented post  28  is secured to each grate  26 , mid-length thereof, i.e., at the bight of the arc. 
     The lowermost end of each post  28  is slideably received with the hollow open end of its associated leg  24  to thereby releasably connect each grate  26  to the periphery of circular log-supporting plate  22  as indicated in  FIG. 1  by assembly lines and as depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
     Central opening  30  is formed in log-supporting plate  22  in the center thereof. A plurality of arcuate openings, collectively denoted  32 , is positioned radially outwardly of central opening  30 , in equidistantly and circumferentially spaced apart relation to one another, just radially inwardly of the peripheral edge of circular log-supporting plate  22 . 
     As best understood by comparing  FIGS. 1 ,  3 A,  3 B and  6 , each arcuate opening  32  is adapted to receive a preselected end of a log. After the lowermost end of each log has been placed in its associated arcuate opening  32 , the respective uppermost ends of the logs are tilted toward each other so that meet at a central location, forming a four-sided pyramid as depicted in  FIG. 6 . Such shape enhances oxygen flow into the areas where combustion occurs. At least three arcuate openings  32  are required to facilitate a log pyramid to enhance oxygen flow, but the depicted number of arcuate openings  32  is not critical and five or more of such arcuate openings are also within the scope of this invention. 
     However, it is not critical to use arcuate openings  32  in the manner just disclosed. Said arcuate opening may be ignored when logs and other combustible items are arranged atop log-supporting plate  22 . Said arcuate openings are provided primarily to enhance oxygen flow into the combustion zone and not to serve as log positioners. 
     Cylindrical shroud  34  has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of central opening  30  formed in log-supporting plate  22  and depends therefrom in axial alignment therewith. The length of cylindrical shroud is preselected so that it does not extend to circular bottom plate  12 . As depicted in  FIG. 4 , a flat strip of metal  36  extends across the bottom edge of cylindrical shroud  34  to support a newspaper or other item that burns easily to start a fire. The novel fire pit will not smoke as long as shroud  34  and central opening  30  is not plugged up. 
     Openings  38  are formed in circular log-supporting plate  22  in equidistantly and circumferentially spaced relation to one another and in radially outward relation to central opening  30 . Openings  38 , like central opening  30  and arcuate openings  32 , facilitate airflow into the combustion area. 
       FIG. 7  depicts a second embodiment where the diameter of circular bottom plate  12  exceeds the diameter of circular log-supporting plate  22 . This increases the ash-collecting capacity of circular bottom plate  12 . Where the diameter of circular log-supporting plate is fifteen and a half inches (15.5″), the diameter of circular bottom plate may be about eighteen inches (18″) as depicted in  FIG. 7 , or it may be about twenty four inches (24″). The dimensions are not critical to the invention. 
     To disassemble novel fire pit  10 , each arcuate grate  26  is lifted to disengage its post  28  from the hollow end of its associated leg  24 . Circular log-supporting plate  22  is then lifted to disengage legs  24  from bosses  20 . Circular log-supporting plate  22  is then inverted as depicted in  FIGS. 4 and 5  so that legs  24  extend upwardly and the inverted circular log-supporting plate  22  is then placed atop circular bottom plate  12 . A first grate  26  is then placed atop circular bottom plate  12 , a second grate is placed atop the first grate, a third grate is placed atop the second grate and the fourth grate is placed atop the third grate. The fully stored configuration is depicted in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 6  depicts the first embodiment when fully assembled and in use. Reference numeral  40  indicates ashes that have fallen through circular opening  30  and cylindrical shroud  34 .  FIG. 6  depicts four logs in pyramidal array but it should be understood that the invention is not limited to that number of logs and it also facilitates the burning of other combustible items as well. 
     A modified, optional version of the novel structure is depicted in  FIG. 3B . Opening  14   a  is formed in flange  14  at any preselected location. The extent of opening  14   a  is not critical but it should probably be about an inch in extent or maybe a few inches. Opening  14   a  allows a user to tilt circular bottom plate  12  so that ashes may slide through opening  14   a , thereby clearing ashes from said circular bottom plate  12 . 
     People who have used the novel fire pit report that their clothes do not smell of smoke thereafter. This phenomenon is probably a result of the excellent combustion that results from the physical structure disclosed above. 
     It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing disclosure, are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing disclosure or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
     It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention that, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.