Abstract:
A collapsible fire pit and grill in one assembly is disclosed which includes a fire pit, a removable grill sized over the top of the fire pit, a rotational pulley system for easily adjusting the distance from the grill to the top of the fire pit. The fire pit and grill assembly of the present invention offers a relaxing atmosphere of an outdoor fire and quickly and easily convert to a fully adjustable cook height grill using a rotational pulley system. The fire pit and grill assembly may collapse down to approximately 11 inches in height to save space for stowing away and easy transportation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a portable fire pit and grill in one assembly and more particularly, to a portable and collapsible fire pit and grill in one assembly that offers a relaxing atmosphere of an outdoor fire and quickly and easily convert to a fully adjustable cook height grill using a rotational pulley system. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    When conducting outdoor activities, such as camping, hiking, people enjoy camp fire pit for warming up or grill. Portable fireplaces and fire pits are used by campers and homeowners to provide outdoor heat and the pleasant appearance of a wood fire. Grills are employed for outdoor cooking. Current grills and fire pits are bulky and hard to carry. It is troublesome and takes up too much valuable space to carry both a fire pit and a grill in RV. Furthermore, currently, the grill master has to grill alone. 
         [0005]    Therefore, there is a need to combine the grill and fire pit in a single compact easy-to-carry, easy-to-set up, easy-to-convert and easy to use assembly. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    One object of the present invention is to provide a grilling apparatus that is designed to be quickly, easily set up, and can be used where open fires need to be contained. 
         [0007]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a grilling apparatus that can collapse so it can be easily stored in the storage compartment of a vehicle, conveniently stowed on a shelf in the garage, hung on the garage wall when not in use and easily carried and transported. 
         [0008]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a combination assembly that can be easily transformed from a grilling mode to the fire pit mode to provide outdoor heat and the pleasant appearance of a wood fire as part of the patio decor. 
         [0009]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus with a design that eliminates bulky size or having to carry such a bulky apparatus. 
         [0010]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is disclosed a collapsible fire pit and grill in one single unit which includes a cylindrical shaped fire pit, a removable grill sized to fit over the top of the fire pit, a rotational pulley system for converting an outdoor fire pit to a fully adjustable cook height grill. The rotational pulley system having two parallel vertical sections inserted into the brackets in the grill and fire pit and a handle to pull and release the cable so as to adjust the height of the grill relative to the fire pit. 
         [0011]    The collapsible grill and fire pit in one assembly may collapse down to approximately 11 inches in height to save space for stowing away. The legs on the base of the collapsible grill and fire pit in one assembly can be folded up against the base of the fire pit. The pulley system&#39;s U-shaped frame&#39;s two vertical section (beams) may be pulled out from the grill&#39;s brackets. The whole rotational pulley system may be laid flat on top of the grill and fire pit to save space for stowing away. 
         [0012]    The rotational pulley system&#39;s handle may also be collapsed down. There are two ways of doing this. One way is a handle that rotates at the hinge that can be rotated to a tuck away position for easier stowing away. A second way is a handle that is locked in place by a locking pin where the handle is detached when the locking pin is removed. 
         [0013]    With the present invention, the grill master no longer has to grill alone. He can become a guest at his own party while he grills. The present invention could be used at home and is easily picked up to take around in an RV. With the present invention, the user can enjoy a relaxing atmosphere of an outdoor fire and quickly and easily convert it to a fully adjustable cook height grill. It is simple and easy to use for everyone and is designed to be virtually indestructible. 
         [0014]    The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow. 
         [0015]    Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0016]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0017]    The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred feature of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention and that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claim, and the accompanying drawings in which similar elements are given similar reference numerals. 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the collapsible grill and fire pit in one assembly. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the collapsible grill and fire pit in one assembly in the folded/collapsed form. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the collapsible grill and fire pit in one assembly in the folded/collapsed form. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the collapsible grill and fire pit in one assembly in the folded/collapsed form. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the collapsible grill and fire pit in one assembly in the folded/collapsed form placed in a box for convenient storage. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the fire pit. 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of the base of the fire pit showing the legs mounted with hinges in standing position. 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is an isometric view of the base of the fire pit showing the leg rotated about the hinge and stowed against the base of the fire pit. 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is an isometric view of the rotational pulley assembly. 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is a zoom in view of the handle with locking collar. 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  is a zoom in view of the handle with the collar pushed back, exposing the hinge, and placing the handle in rotated position. 
           [0030]      FIG. 12  is a zoom in top view of the handle with collar pushed back exposing the hinge, and placing the handle in rotated position. 
           [0031]      FIG. 13  is a zoom in view of the first version of the removable handle with locking pin. 
           [0032]      FIG. 14  is a zoom in view of the first version of the removable handle with locking pin removed and handle removed. 
           [0033]      FIG. 15  is a zoom in view of the second version of the removable handle with locking pin. 
           [0034]      FIG. 18  is a zoom in view of the second version of the removable handle with a second version of locking pin removed and handle removed. 
           [0035]      FIG. 17  is an isometric view of the grill. 
           [0036]      FIG. 18  is an isometric view of the spark arrestor cover. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0037]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , there is disclosed the collapsible grill and fire pit in one assembly  100 . The collapsible grill and fire pit in one assembly  100  constructed in accordance with the present invention is generally indicated by the number  100 . In use, the collapsible grill and fire pit in one assembly  100  would be set up essentially as shown in  FIG. 1 , with a supply of charcoal or wide range of up to 22 inch split hardwoods (to get different flavors).  FIGS. 2-4  show the isometric view, top view, side view of the collapsible fire pit and grill assembly  100  in a folded stowed position.  FIG. 5  shows that the collapsible grill and fire pit assembly is stored in a box. 
         [0038]    Collapsible fire pit and grill assembly  100  comprises a fire pit  10  for a contained fire, a grill  30  for cooking, and a rotational pulley system  40  for adjusting the distance from the grill  30  to the top of the fire pit  10 . The assembly  100  further comprises supporting means  30  such as legs to support fire pit  10  so that even the fire pit  10  is heated it won&#39;t damage the ground. 
         [0039]    Collapsible fire pit and grill assembly  100 , includes a fire pit  10 , preferably made of steel. The fire pit  10  is used as a fire pit for receiving combustibles. Referring to  FIG. 6  for one preferred embodiment of the fire pit  10  wherein the fire pit  10  looks like a conventional flat base opened top pot with a flange around the top edge. The fire pit  10  is of a cylindrical shape (fire pit approximately 7″ in height) having a solid round base  11 , a round side wall  12  projecting perpendicularly and upwards from the base along the circumferential edge of the base, a flange  13  projecting horizontally and outwards from the top edge of the circular side wall, a pair of brackets  14  located opposite to each other on the side wall&#39;s interior surface; wherein the base and side wall defines a opened top chamber  15  for receiving charcoal, woods, and any other combustibles. In the preferred embodiment, the fire pit  10  is approximately 7 inches in height. The fire pit  10  may have other shapes in other embodiments. 
         [0040]    In order to avoid the heated fire pit  10  to directly contact with any surface including ground to cause damage to the surface due to hot burning temperature, legs  20  are provided to support the fire pit  10  and keep it away from direct contact with the ground. In the preferred embodiment that is shown in  FIG. 7 , three legs  20  are attached to the exterior side of the base  11  of the fire pit  10  via brackets, bolts, and nuts to create the hinges for the legs  20  to be mounted on the fire pit&#39;s base  11  at a 10 degree angle tilted from the plane perpendicular to the base  11 . The legs  20  may be rotated against the fire pit so it can be folded against the base  11  of the fire pit  10  to conserve space and for easier transportation. In other embodiment, more than three legs are available as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0041]    The collapsible grill and fire pit assemble  100  further comprise a grill  30  which is made of steel.  FIG. 17  shows an illustration of the removable grill  30 . The removable grill  30  sized to fit over the top of the chamber  15  is employed for cooking. The grill  30  has two sleeves  31 , opposite to each other on the edge of the grill, and two hooks  32  near the brackets sleeves  31  respectively. 
         [0042]      FIGS. 9-10  show a rotational pulley system  40  having a U-shaped frame  42  with a horizontal section, two parallel vertical sections, a horizontal shaft located below the horizontal section across and beyond the two parallel sections, and a handle  41  removably attached to one end of the shaft  44  and two connectors  43  located on the vertical sections respectively for hooking up the hooks  32  on the grill. The shaft  44  has four holes on its body. The cable  45  passes through the two entry holes. The cable&#39;s  45  two terminal ends exit from the exit holes to attach to the two connectors  43  respectively. The rotational pulley system further comprises two clamps  46  for securing the two ends of the cable  45  in place. The cable/wire is about 0.09 inches in diameter and 0.58 inches long. 
         [0043]    When the grill and fire pit assembly of the present invention is to be used as a grill, the grill  30  is placed over the top of fire pit with the sleeves  31  of grill  30  aligned with the brackets  14  on the fire pit  10  so that the vertical sections are inserted through the sleeves  31  on the grill into the pair of brackets  14  located opposite to each other on the fire pit&#39;s side wall&#39;s  12  interior surface. 
         [0044]    On the U-shaped frame  42 , at the points right under where the horizontal section connects with the two parallel vertical sections there are two holes large enough for a shaft  44  to pass through, in one embodiment, the shaft  44  is attached to a handle  41  on the first end. A dowel  51  (⅛″ diameter 0.5″ long), steel washer  53  (⅜″ OD 0.09 thick), and a collar  50  (handle lock) is used to attach the shaft  44  to the handle  41 . When the collar  50  is pushed back into locking position, the hinge  55  is exposed. The hinge  55  allows the handle  41  to be rotated to a stowed position.  FIG. 11  is a zoomed in isometric view showing the handle  41  in rotated position.  FIG. 12  is a zoomed in top view showing the handle  41  in the rotated position.  FIG. 13  shows another embodiment, where a removable handle  41  is used. Instead of using a locking collar  53 , a locking pin  56  is used. FIG  14  shows that the locking pin  56  can be removed to remove the handle  41 . FIG  15  and FIG  16  shows a second type of removable handle  41  with a different shaped locking pin. For both types of removable handle  41 , the shaft  44  has a concaved receiving end for the handle  41 . Both the concaved receiving end and the handle  41  have corresponding holes that when lined up allows for the locking pin  56  (locking pin  57  in second type) to pass through to lock the handle  41  to the shaft  44  or removed for the locking pin  56  and the handle  41  to detach. The first type of locking pin  56  is shaped so that its loop can encircle the handle  41 . 
         [0045]    On the other end of the shaft  44  a spring  52  (1.25 O.D×0.170 Wire Diameter, 3″ long) is placed over the shaft  44  to provide friction. A steel washer  53  (1⅜″ OD 0.09 thick) along with a nut  54  (⅜-16 HEX) keeps the spring  52  in place on the shaft  44  and prevent the shaft  44  from falling out of the hole. 
         [0046]    The user turns the handle  5  which rotates the shaft  44 , pulling the cables  45  that connected to the grill  30  through the connector  43 , lifting the grill  30  up to adjust the distance between the fire and the food being cooked. This also allows for opening for the user to put wood or charcoal into. 
         [0047]    After the connectors  43  are detached from the grill hooks  32 , the U-shaped frame&#39;s two vertical section (beams) may be pulled out from the grill&#39;s brackets  31 . The whole rotational pulley system  40  may be laid flat on top of the grill  30  and fire pit  10  to save space for stowing away. The fire pit and grill assembly  100  may thus be collapse down to approximately 11 inches in height. 
         [0048]    Referring to  FIG. 18  there is disclosed a spark arrester cover  60  in a dome shape. The cover  60  is constructed by spot weld wire mesh to inside of frame. The diameter of the cover  60  will be large enough to cover the edge of the grill  30 . 
         [0049]    While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention and not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are entitled.