Patent Publication Number: US-11655981-B1

Title: Collapsible fire pit

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention pertains to a collapsible fire pit that is easy to transport. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The inventor of the present invention is an avid outdoorsman who loves taking cross country trips in his vehicle. 
     One of the biggest problems that he has suffered in his trips is having to set up a grill and break up a grill to nourish himself, and then to stow the grill after it use. Usually when stowing the grill, either himself or his vehicle get filthy during the process. 
     Another problem that he suffers on his road trips is that when he takes a grill, the grill is an unstable structure that tends to fall over in his vehicle. 
     Yet another problem he experiences when camping is freezing temperatures when he hikes away from his vehicle. Often, he is forced to dig holes in the ground to create fire pits in desolate areas to warm himself. 
     Because of the above mentioned problems, the inventor conceived the present invention, a lightweight, collapsible fire pit, that could also work as an outdoor cooking grill that is easy to transport. 
     The present invention is designed, when collapsed, to be easily attachable to a backpack. It is also designed, when it is collapsed, to be placed flat on a vehicle structure. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is directed to a collapsible fire pit that is easy to transport. 
     The collapsible travel pit comprises of a ring base that has a plurality of rings that extend upward from the base. The ring base has a base and an outer wall that extends upward from a circumference of the base, the outer wall measures at least three inches in height. Each of the plurality of rings has an outer wall that measures at least three inches in height, and each ring has a circumference that is larger than an outer wall of the ring or the outer wall of the ring base that it is secured on. At least three pins are defined on the outer wall of the ring base. Each outer wall of each ring of the plurality of rings defines at least three L-shaped channels and at least three pins. Each L-shaped channel receives each pin of the collapsible fire pit. The position of the pins when in the L-shaped channels direct the position in which the collapsible fire pit rests. The collapsible fire pit rests in either an extended or in a collapsed position. A pair of pivots connect a pair of step clamps to the ring base. The pair of pivots are diametrically positioned on the ring base. A cover that removably attaches to the outer wall of an outer ring that has the greatest circumference of the collapsible fire pit. The cover defines at least one T-shaped guide on a cover outer wall, the T-shaped guide receives at least one pin of the outer ring. The cover further defines a centrally positioned handle on a top side of the cover and two diametrically positioned apertures that are configured to receive the pair of step clamps when the collapsible fire pit is collapsed. The ring base further defines a centrally position air flow aperture. And, the collapsible fire pit has an elevated ash pan that is removable attached to the ring base and a screen tray that is placed on the ash pan. 
     In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the material to fabricate the ring base, the plurality of rings and the cover are made of a rigid fire-resistant material that does not conduct heat. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible travel pit that can easily be stored in a vehicle. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible fire pit that can be used as an emergency stove. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible fire pit that is easy to stow in a backpack. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a tactical collapsible fire pit that can be used by military personnel when on clandestine missions. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible fire pit that can be laid flat in a transport vehicle and that will not flip while in transport. 
     Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible fire pit that will prevent animals from getting injured if they inadvertently touch the outer walls of the pit when the pit is burning a combustible material. 
     Yet still a further object of the present invention is to provide a camper with a fire pit that can easily be transported and stowed after use that will not dirty the transport vehicle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regards to the following description, appended claims, and drawings where: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of the present invention in an expanded position; 
         FIG.  2    is a front view of the present invention that further shows a sectional view of the present invention; 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of the present invention in a collapsed position; 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of the ring base of the present invention; and 
         FIG.  5    is an exploded view of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     As seen in  FIGS.  1 - 5   , the present invention is a collapsible fire pit  100  that is easy to transport. 
     The collapsible fire pit  100  comprises a ring base  10  has a base  10   a  and an outer wall  10   b  that extends upward from a circumference of the ring base  10 , the outer wall  10   b  of the ring base  10  measures at least three inches in height, at least three pins  36  are defined on the outer wall  10   b  of the ring base  10 . A plurality of rings  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18  that extend upward from the ring base  10 , each of the plurality of rings  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18  has an outer wall that measures at least three inches in height, and each ring  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18  has a circumference that is larger than an outer wall of the ring  12 ,  14 ,  16  or the outer wall  10   b  of the ring base  10  that it is secured on, the outermost ring of the plurality of rings  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18  is an outer ring  18 , each outer wall of each ring of the plurality of rings  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18  defines at least three L-shaped channels  30  and at least three pins  36 , and each L-shaped channel  30  receives each pin  36  of the collapsible fire pit  10 . A pair of pivots  24  connect a pair of step clamps  22  to the ring base  10 , the pair of pivots  24  are diametrically positioned on the ring base  10 . And, a cover  20  that removably attaches to the outer wall of the outer ring  18 , an outer wall  20   a  of the cover  20  defines at least one T-shaped guide  32 , the T-shaped guide  32  is configured to receive at least one pin  36  of the outer ring  18 , the cover  20  has a centrally positioned handle  20  on a top side  20   b  of the cover  20 . 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the cover  20  defines two diametrically positioned apertures  234  that are configured to receive the pair of step clamps  22  when the collapsible fire pit is collapsed  100 . 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the collapsible fire pit comprises  100  an elevated ash pan  50  that is removably attached to the ring base  10 , and a screen tray  60  that is placed on the elevated ash pan  50 . 
     In still another embodiment of the present invention, the ring base  10  further defines a centrally position air flow aperture  70 . 
     In yet still another embodiment of the present invention, the ring base  10 , the plurality of rings  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18  and the cover  20  are made of a rigid fireproof material. The rigid fireproof material can either be an aluminum or a metallic material. The rigid fire proof material can also be a silicon dioxide composite. 
     In a further embodiment of the present invention, the elevated ash pan  50  defines a magnetic element that is configured to attach to the ring base  10 . 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a diameter of the ring base  10  measures at least nineteen inches, and a total height of the outer walls of the collapsible fire pit  100 , when extended, measures at least fourteen inches. 
     An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a collapsible travel pit that is easily be stored in a vehicle. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a collapsible fire pit that serves as an emergency stove. 
     Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a collapsible fire pit that stows in a backpack. 
     Yet still another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a tactical collapsible fire pit that military personnel can use when on clandestine missions. 
     A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a collapsible fire pit that lays flat in a transport vehicle and that does not flip while in transport. 
     Yet a further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a collapsible fire pit that prevents animals from getting injured when they inadvertently touch the outer walls of the pit. 
     Yet still a further advantage of the present invention is that it allows a camper to have a fire pit that he can easily transport and stow after use that will not soil his transport vehicle. 
     The embodiments of the collapsible fire pit described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, combinations, variations, and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve an equivalent result, all of which are intended to be embraced within the scope of the appended claims. Further, nothing in the above-provided discussions of the collapsible fire pit should be construed as limiting the invention to an embodiment or a combination of embodiments. The scope of the invention is defined by the description, drawings, and claims.