Patent Publication Number: US-9839320-B2

Title: Fire safe fire pit

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of and claims the priority benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/685,294 filed Apr. 13, 2015 for “Fire Safe Camp Stove and Fire Pit,” of Michael V. Robb, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/470,916 filed May 14, 2012 (issued U.S. Pat. No. 9,027,543 on May 12, 2015) for “Fire Safe Camp Stove and Fire Pit,” of Michael V. Robb, each hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as though fully set forth herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     People enjoy cooking over an open fire, for example, when camping or picnicking. People also enjoy sitting around an open fire and conversing or simply watching the flames outdoors. Of course, the fire may also provide warmth especially in the cooler morning and evening hours. The use of open fires is not limited to use in the great outdoors at parks or campgrounds, and fire pits are commercially available that can be used at home in backyards and on patios. 
     Unfortunately, the increase in wildfires has led to more restrictions on open fires. These restrictions are especially prevalent during times of drought, and may outright ban any uncontained fire. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example fire safe camp stove and fire pit device. 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective of the example device shown in  FIG. 1 , wherein a lid is shown in an open position to provide access to a first cooking surface. 
         FIG. 3  is another perspective of the example device shown in  FIG. 1 , wherein an access door is shown in an open position to provide access to a fire chamber. 
         FIGS. 4 a - b    are (a) front plan and (b) side plan vies of the example device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A fire safe camp stove and/or fire pit is disclosed. Fire burning restrictions include ordinances requiring developed campgrounds to provide permanent fire pits with a covering grate. The fire safe camp stove and/or fire pit disclosed herein complies with strict ordinances in fire risk areas. 
     An example fire safe camp stove and fire pit device includes a fire chamber, a first cooking surface directly over the fire chamber, and a lid. The lid is movable between an open position and a closed position. The lid in the open position provides access to the first cooking surface. In the closed position, the lid provides a second cooking surface above the first cooking surface. 
     During use, firewood and/or other fuel (e.g., synthetic fire logs) may be loaded inside the fire chamber through a front door access. A fire is ignited, and the lid and front door can be closed for campfires, thus completely containing flames and eliminating the risk of wind blowing debris and ash. 
     For cooking, the lid may be opened and food to be cooked (e.g., hamburgers, hot dogs, steaks, etc.) can be placed directly, and/or in pots, pans, or other cooking vessels, on the first cooking surface. The lid may then be closed over the food, thus increasing heat on the first cooking surface. When the lid is closed, other foods may be placed on this second cooking surface for lower-heat cooking (e.g., warming bread). 
     The fire safe camp stove and fire pit device dampens and eliminates 95% or more of sparks emitted from a fire burning in the fire chamber, and completely contains the flames. The flames are still visible from all sides, allowing the users to enjoy the ambiance of a campfire without the risk of an open fire. 
     Before continuing, it is noted that as used herein, the terms “includes” and “including” mean, but is not limited to, “includes” or “including” and “includes at least” or “including at least.” 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example fire safe camp stove and fire pit device  10 .  FIG. 2  is another perspective of the example device  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , wherein the lid  12  is shown in the open position.  FIG. 3  is another perspective of the example device  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , wherein an access door  14  is shown in an open position. 
     The device  10  includes a fire chamber  16 , and a lid  12  which can be opened and closed over a first cooking surface  20 . As its name implies, fuel (e.g., firewood or other fuel source) may be added to the fire chamber  16  (e.g., through access door  14 ). The first cooking surface  20  is provided directly over the fire chamber  16 , and thus experiences a fair amount of heat generated by the fire burning in (and/or coals smoldering in) the fire chamber  16 . 
     During use, the lid  12  and access door  14  can be closed to contain the flames. This also reduces the risk of blowing debris and ash. But heat from the fire can still be felt by people standing or sitting in the vicinity of the device  10 , and the flames are still visible through screens  22  provided in one or more of the sidewalls of the fire chamber  16  (only screens in sidewalls  24   a - b  and access door  14  are visible in the drawings, but the back wall may also have a screen) and/or screens (three screens  25   a - c  are shown in  FIG. 2 , a screen on the back wall of the lid may or may not be provided) provided in one or more of the sidewalls of the lid  12 . 
     It is noted that the screens may have any suitable mesh size. The mesh size may depend at least to some extent on the intended use and/or compliance with area ordinances or burning restrictions. In addition, plates may be provided (e.g., to snap in or slide into place) for use over the screens, e.g., to reduce the amount of smoke, to increase heat for cooking, or to dampen the fire after use. 
     The lid  12  may be moved to the open position (shown in  FIG. 2 ) to provide access to the first cooking surface  20 . For example, food to be cooked (e.g., hamburgers, hot dogs, steaks, etc.) can be placed directly on the first cooking surface  20 . Food in pots, pans, or other cooking vessels may also be placed on the first cooking surface  20 . The lid  12  may then be closed over the food and/or cooking vessels to increase heat for food on the first cooking surface. 
     When closed, the lid  12  may also provide a second cooking surface  26  above the first cooking surface  20 . In an example, the second cooking surface can be used for larger cooking utensils such as coffee pots. Because the second cooking surface  26  is farther away from the fire chamber  16 , the second cooking surface  26  may also be maintained at a lower temperature than the first cooking surface  20 , and thus is suitable for warming (e.g., warming bread or maintaining the temperature of foods which have already been cooked). 
     It is noted that the access door  14  enables the user to add fuel to the fire without having to remove any of the food cooking on either of the cooking surfaces. 
     A cooking grate  21  is shown forming the first cooking surface  20 , and a cooking plate  27  is shown forming the second cooking surface  26 . The cooking grate  21  and/or cooking plate  27  can be any suitable grate, such as but not limited to, an expanded metal cooking grate, a rounded rod cooking grate, or a flat plate with perforations. In another example, the cooking plate  27  may include a solid surface or mostly solid surface (e.g., with vents). It is noted that the grate  21  and cooking plate  27  may be interchangeable between the first cooking surface  20  and the second cooking surface  26 . That is, the cooking grate  21  may be used on the second cooking surface  26  and/or the cooking plate  27  can be used on the first cooking surface  20 . In addition, a cooking plate and/or cooking grate may be used on both the first and second cooking surfaces. 
     A baffle  27 ′ is shown below the cooking plate  27 , and may be provided in spaced apart relation to the cooking plate  27  (e.g., hanging about 1 inch below the cooking plate  27 ). The baffle  27 ′ routes smoke around to the edges of the cooking plate  27 , while also retaining heat adjacent the second cooking surface. The baffle  27 ′ may be solid or partially solid (e.g., with vents). 
     It is noted that other features may also be included for the fire safe camp stove and fire pit device  10 . By way of illustration, and not intending to be limiting, a damper  22 ′ (shown partially closed in  FIG. 2  for purposes of illustration) may be provided on one or more side and/or in the access door  14  to the fire chamber. The damper  22 ′ may slide open and closed (or pull open and closed) to enable a user to regulate airflow to the fire chamber and thus increase/decrease temperature, smoke, and how fast the fire is burning. In another illustration, a container (not shown) may be provided in the fire chamber so that coals can be moved closer to and/or farther away from the first cooking surface  20 . The container may be mounted in the fire chamber or positioned in the fire chamber. The container may be removable and adjustable in height. 
     The fire safe camp stove and fire pit device  10  may be installed in campgrounds and parks and other areas where forest and grass fires are a concern. The device  10  may include an anchoring mechanism. For example, the device  10  is shown in the drawings having a mounting plate  30   a - b  with openings  31  formed therethrough for anchoring on bolts set in concrete (not shown), or anchoring in the ground with stakes (also not shown). Anchoring may be used as a security measure (e.g., so that the device  10  is not readily moved or removed), aids in longevity of the device  10  (by preventing the device from being moved about and possibly damaged), and makes the device easier to clean (by preventing the device from tipping over). 
     It is noted that the device  10  is not limited to any size or shape. For example, the device  10  may be provided in any size, such as smaller units for backyards, larger units for individual campsites, and even larger units for group campsites. The device  10  may be any shape, such as the substantially square shape shown in the drawings, or octagonal, round, or any other desired shape. In addition, the lid  12  and/or access door  14  may include one or more handles  32  and  33 , respectively. 
     It should be appreciated that the device  10  greatly reduces or altogether eliminates sparks from being emitted to the surrounding environment. The device  10  also encloses the flame and retains ash and debris, thus reducing the possibility of starting a wildfire. 
       FIGS. 4 a - b    are front and side plan views of the example device shown in  FIG. 1 . A lock  28  is visible on the right side (although the lock  28  may be provided on either or both sides). In an example, the lock  34  includes a link  35  on pins  36   a - b  which are in turn mounted on the sidewall  24  of the fire chamber  16  and the lid  12 , respectively. The pins  36   a - b  may include heads to retain the link  35  on the pins  36   a - b , such that the link  35  can slide on the pins  36   a - b  without falling off of the pins  36   a - b . The lock  34  enables the lid  12  to be readily raised and lowered, but limits a range of motion of the lid  12 . That is, the lock  34  may serve as a limiter so that the lid  12  will only open to about 90 degrees relative to the first cooking surface  20  (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 2 ). The lock  34  may also work in conjunction with a heavy duty spring on the hinge  37 . The lock  34  may also serve to hold the lid  12  in place and thus prevent the lid from unintentionally closing, or slamming shut (e.g., by the wind). 
     It is noted that the examples shown and described are provided for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting. Still other examples are also contemplated.