Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses such a table wherein the table has a heating appliance holder in the form of a container which holds a heating appliance and the heating appliance holder extends below an underside of the table top. Legs of the table are attached to the underside of the table top. Heat from the heating appliance may be conducted to the table top via the heating appliance holder which may damage the table top. The heating appliance is controlled by an actuator underneath the table top which may be difficult to operate when a person is seated by the table. Also, people in wheelchairs may find it difficult to sit around the table.

<CIT> discloses a hollow pedestal supporting an annular table top. A hearth is installed in the hollow pedestal and contains a fuel grid. A control plate for controlling the supply of air to the hearth is at the base of the hearth and is controlled by an actuator which is accessed by an opening by the bottom of the pedestal.

<CIT> discloses a stove which has a cylindrical combustion chamber with a fire door. A cup shaped body is above the combustion chamber and supports an annular table top.

<CIT> discloses a fire barrel comprising a cylindrical outer wall with a coal grate inside and an annular table top around the outside. The outer wall has an opening below the coal grate and the control of air into fire barrel is by changing the position of a cover plate that is connected to the outer wall by magnets.

<CIT> discloses a hollow pedestal supporting an annular table top. A cylindrical body is installed in the hollow pedestal and an outer wall of the body has a series of horizontally spaced air inlets which are above a movable fuel grid. A supply of air into the cylindrical body via the air inlets is controlled by a perforated ring being rotated by a radial arm beneath the table top.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a table having a heating appliance which can alleviate at least one of the above-mentioned problems.

According to the present invention there is provided a table comprising: a table top; a heating appliance comprising a fire box with a fire box chamber and a chamber opening at a top of said fire box for placing inside said fire box combustible fuel, such as wood or charcoal, with which said heating appliance is used, said fire box chamber having a combustible fuel holder, and said heating appliance having a first air inlet for supplying an air flow to said fire box chamber for combusting said combustible fuel, said first air inlet being through a side wall of said fire box; and a heating appliance holder holding said heating appliance, said heating appliance holder comprising a holder main body, and a table top holder for holding said table top, characterized in that said heating appliance includes a fire door for closing said opening; said heating appliance includes a second air inlet for supplying an air flow to said fire box chamber for combusting said combustible fuel, wherein said second air inlet is through said side wall of said fire box, and said first air inlet is above said combustible fuel holder and said second air inlet is below said combustible fuel holder; said heating appliance includes a first control valve adjacent said side wall of said fire box for controlling the supply of air through said first and second air flow inlets, and a first actuator for actuating said first control valve, wherein said first actuator extends above said holder main body; and said table top holder is spaced apart from said holder main body by at least one gap.

By the heating appliance holder having the at least one gap, this reduces heat being conducted to the table top from the heating appliance via the heating appliance holder which can prevent the table top from being charred. The least one gap also reduces heat being conducted to the table top holder. Air can flow through the at least one gap.

The at least one gap may be beneath the table top holder. The table top holder may extend at least partially around a perimeter of the heating appliance holder. There may be a series of said gaps spaced at least partially around the perimeter of the heating appliance holder. The table top holder may be above the holder main body.

The table top may cantilever from the heating appliance holder. This enables people in wheelchairs to be able to position themselves around the table. The table top may comprise at least two table top portions. The table top portions may be removable from the table top holder to save storage space such as when the table is being transported. The table top holder may comprise at least one groove for holding the table top portions. The table top portions may cantilever from the at least one groove. The groove may comprise an annular groove configured to extend around the heating appliance held by the heating appliance holder.

The heating appliance holder may include at least one leg.

The fire door may have a window. The window may allow an attractive view of flames from combusting fuel to be seen. The table can be used to produce a warm micro climate and visually pleasing ambience. The fire door may be substantially coplanar with an upper surface of the table top when the fire door is in a closed position.

The at least one side wall may surround the fire box chamber.

The combustible fuel holder may comprise a grate.

The first actuator may be fixed to or form an integral unit with the first control valve.

The table may include a third air inlet for supplying an air flow to the fire box chamber for combusting the combustible fuel wherein the third air inlet is on or through an underside of the fire box. The heating appliance may have a second control valve for controlling the supply of air through the third air inlet. The second control valve may be adjacent or mounted on the underside of the fire box. The table may include a second actuator for actuating the second control valve. The second actuator may extend above the table top or holder main body. The second actuator may be adjacent or mounted on the side wall of the fire box.

At least one of the actuators may extend above a top of the holder main body. At least one of the actuators may extend into or to be inside an area defined by the table top holder extending at least partially around a perimeter of the heating appliance holder.

By at least one of the first and second actuators extending above the table or holder main body, a person seated by the table can easily control the heating appliance.

The heating appliance may include a flue exhaust for emissions to exit from the fire box chamber.

The heating appliance may have a lower chamber beneath the fire box chamber. The lower chamber may be connected by at least one air conduit to the fire box chamber. The third air inlet may enter the lower chamber.

The holder main body may comprise at least one side wall which surrounds the heating appliance and a base. The heating appliance may be received on said base. There may be a second gap between the heating appliance and the at least one side wall of the heating appliance holder. The second gap may form an air gap or a heat insulation gap. The at least one side wall may have at least one aperture.

The at least one air inlet may be configured to receive air via the at least one wall aperture.

The heating appliance may be centrally positioned in the table top.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:.

Referring to <FIG> of the accompanying drawings, a table <NUM> comprises a heating appliance holder or safety cage <NUM>, a heating appliance or stove or burner <NUM> held by the holder <NUM>, and a rectangular table top <NUM> which comprises a pair of table top portions <NUM>, <NUM>. The heating appliance <NUM> and the heating appliance holder <NUM> form separate, discrete units.

The heating appliance holder <NUM> comprises a holder main body <NUM> and a table top holder <NUM> above for holding the table top <NUM>.

The holder main body <NUM> is cuboid in shape and comprises two longitudinal side walls <NUM>, two end walls <NUM> and a leg <NUM> at each corner wherein each leg <NUM> extends below the walls <NUM>, <NUM> and terminates with a wheel <NUM>. A strut <NUM> connects the legs <NUM> on either side of each end wall <NUM> and the strut <NUM> is just below the end wall <NUM>. An L-shaped rail <NUM> extends between the legs <NUM> on each side of the longitudinal side wall <NUM> and has an upright <NUM> and a flange <NUM>. The back of the upright <NUM> of the rail <NUM> is fixed to an inside surface of each of the legs <NUM>. The bottom of each longitudinal side wall <NUM> has a return <NUM> which ends at the back of the rail upright <NUM>. The longitudinal side walls <NUM> and the end walls <NUM> have many apertures <NUM>.

The tops of the legs <NUM> and the longitudinal side walls <NUM> and end walls <NUM> are connected to the underside of a rectangular sheet <NUM> which extends outwardly beyond the walls <NUM>, <NUM> and legs <NUM> and which forms part of the holder main body <NUM>. The sheet <NUM> forms a top of the holder main body <NUM>. On the opposite side of the sheet <NUM>, the table top holder <NUM> in the form of a C-shaped member extends around the perimeter of the sheet <NUM> wherein the C-shaped member forms an annular groove <NUM> which faces outwardly. The table top holder <NUM> is spaced apart from the sheet <NUM> beneath by a series of gaps <NUM> spaced along the perimeter.

Each table top portion <NUM>, <NUM> has a recess which enables an inside edge <NUM> of the table top portion <NUM>, <NUM> to be slotted into groove <NUM> so that the table top portion <NUM>, <NUM> is held by the groove <NUM> and cantilevers from the groove <NUM>. When the inside edge <NUM> of both table top portions <NUM>, <NUM> are fully inserted into the groove <NUM> the table top portions <NUM>, <NUM> form the rectangular table top <NUM>.

The sheet <NUM> has a substantially rectangular opening <NUM> to enable the main body <NUM> of the heating appliance holder <NUM> to receive the heating appliance <NUM>. The heating appliance <NUM> sits on the flanges <NUM> of the two rails <NUM> between the uprights <NUM>, and a base of the holder main body <NUM> comprises the rails <NUM>. The heating appliance <NUM> is surrounded by the walls <NUM>, <NUM> of the heating appliance holder <NUM> and there is a gap <NUM> between the walls <NUM>, <NUM> of the heating appliance holder <NUM> and the heating appliance <NUM>.

The heating appliance <NUM> comprises a fire box <NUM> having two longitudinal side walls <NUM>, first and second end side walls <NUM>, <NUM> and a floor <NUM> which define a chamber <NUM> of the fire box <NUM> wherein the walls <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> define an opening <NUM> to the chamber <NUM> at the top. A fire door <NUM> is hinged to the top of the second end wall <NUM> and used to close the chamber opening <NUM>. The fire door <NUM> has a handle <NUM> distal to the hinged connection <NUM> to the second end wall <NUM>. The fire door <NUM> has a window <NUM>, and is substantially coplanar with an upper surface of the table top <NUM> when the fire door <NUM> is in a closed position.

The two longitudinal side walls <NUM>, and the first end wall <NUM> are cavity walls. The heating appliance <NUM> has a lower chamber <NUM> beneath the floor <NUM> of the fire box chamber <NUM> and the lower chamber <NUM> extends to the cavities <NUM> of the longitudinal side walls <NUM> and the first end wall <NUM>. The cavities <NUM> are connected to openings or outlets <NUM> into the fire box chamber <NUM> in an upper portion of the longitudinal side walls <NUM> and the first end wall <NUM>.

A flue base <NUM> extends from an opening <NUM> in the second end wall <NUM> and the flue base <NUM> initially bends through <NUM> degrees before it extends upwards through an extension <NUM> to the sheet opening <NUM>. A flue extension <NUM> extends upwards from the flue base <NUM> and the flue extension <NUM> and a portion of the flue base <NUM> which extends above the sheet <NUM> is surrounded by a cylindrical mesh <NUM>. The flue base <NUM> and flue extension <NUM> form an exhaust for emissions to exit from the fire box chamber <NUM> and directs emissions or smoke away from people sitting around the table <NUM>.

A rack (not shown) may be attached to the flue extension <NUM> or the surrounding mesh <NUM>. The rack may have hooks from which, say, bowls and utensils can be hung.

The fire box chamber <NUM> has a grate <NUM> which is spaced above the floor <NUM> of the fire box chamber <NUM>. A first air inlet conduit <NUM> extends from the outside of the fire box <NUM>, through the first end wall <NUM> and into the fire box chamber <NUM> above the grate <NUM>, and a second air inlet conduit <NUM> extends from the outside of the fire box <NUM>, through the first end wall <NUM> and into the fire box chamber <NUM> below the grate <NUM>. Both the first and second air inlet conduits <NUM>, <NUM> are rectangular in shape. The longitudinal sides of the first air inlet conduit <NUM> are inclined at an acute angle to the vertical towards a first pivot connection <NUM> on the first end wall <NUM>. The longitudinal sides of the second air inlet conduit <NUM> are parallel to the bottom of the fire box <NUM> and the second air inlet conduit <NUM> is positioned below the first air inlet conduit <NUM> and is further away from the first pivot connection <NUM> than the first air inlet conduit <NUM>.

A first control valve <NUM> is mounted on the first pivot connection <NUM> on the outside of the first end wall <NUM> and is shaped so that it can cover an entrance to just the first air inlet conduit <NUM> or both the first and second air inlet conduits <NUM>, <NUM> or neither air inlet conduit depending on which position the first control valve <NUM> is rotated to about the first pivot connection <NUM>. The first control valve <NUM> is connected to a first actuator or lever <NUM> which extends upwards through a first slot <NUM> in the sheet <NUM> of the heating appliance holder <NUM>. The first control valve <NUM> and first actuator <NUM> form an integral unit.

The underside of the heating appliance <NUM> has a plurality of radial openings or inlets <NUM> extending into the lower chamber <NUM> through a floor <NUM> of the lower chamber <NUM>. A second control valve <NUM> (see <FIG>) in the form of a disc is rotatably mounted on the underside of the heating appliance <NUM> and has a plurality of radial openings <NUM> which corresponds to the radial openings <NUM> in the underside of the heating appliance <NUM>. The disc <NUM> is between the rails <NUM> of the heating appliance holder <NUM>. A rod <NUM> extends from the disc <NUM> and extends beyond the bottom of the first end wall <NUM> of the fire box <NUM>. A distal end of the rod <NUM> has an aperture <NUM>.

A second actuator or lever <NUM> is mounted on a second pivot connection <NUM> on the outside of the first end wall <NUM> and a pin <NUM> forms a bottom of the second actuator <NUM> which is received in the aperture <NUM> in the distal end of the rod <NUM>. The second actuator <NUM> extends upwards through a second slot <NUM> in the sheet <NUM> of the heating appliance holder <NUM>.

In use, the fire door <NUM> of the heating appliance <NUM> is opened and combustible solid fuel is placed on the grate <NUM> inside the fire box chamber <NUM>.

Where the combustible fuel is charcoal, the first actuator <NUM> may be used to ensure that the first control valve <NUM> does not cover the entrances to the first and second air inlet conduits <NUM>, <NUM> (see <FIG>) and the second actuator <NUM> may be used to ensure that the second control valve <NUM> has been rotated into a position so that it covers the heating appliance radial openings <NUM>. Air is received in the fire box chamber <NUM> from outside the table <NUM> via the apertures <NUM> in the end wall <NUM> of the heating appliance holder <NUM> in front of the first end wall <NUM> of the heating appliance <NUM> and via the first and second air inlet conduits <NUM>, <NUM>. The combustible solid fuel is ignited, and the first actuator <NUM> is used to rotate the first control valve <NUM> about the first pivot connection <NUM> so that the first control valve <NUM> just covers the entrance to the first air inlet conduit <NUM> (see <FIG>). The first actuator <NUM> can then be used to rotate the first control valve <NUM> so that it partially covers the entrance to the second air inlet conduit <NUM> as well as fully covering the entrance to the first air inlet conduit <NUM> in order to control the burning of the charcoal and the amount of heat produced.

Where the combustible fuel is wood, the first actuator <NUM> is used to rotate the first control valve <NUM> so that it covers the entrances to both the first and second air inlet conduits <NUM>, <NUM> (see <FIG>) and the second actuator <NUM> is used to rotate the second control valve <NUM> so that it can at least partially cover the heating appliance radial openings <NUM> in order to control the burning of the wood and the amount of heat produced.

In a specific example of a preferred embodiment, the gaps <NUM> between the table top holder <NUM> and the sheet <NUM> below may be <NUM> in height. The table top portions <NUM>, <NUM> may comprise wood.

Whilst a particular embodiment has been described, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention.

The heating appliance, the heating appliance holder and the table top may have different shapes from that shown. For example, the heating appliance may be a substantially cube shape, and the table top may be substantially square.

Claim 1:
A table (<NUM>) comprising: a table top (<NUM>); a heating appliance (<NUM>) comprising a fire box (<NUM>) with a fire box chamber (<NUM>) and a chamber opening (<NUM>) at a top of said fire box (<NUM>) for placing inside said fire box (<NUM>) combustible fuel with which said heating appliance (<NUM>) is used, said fire box chamber (<NUM>) having a combustible fuel holder (<NUM>), and said heating appliance having a first air inlet (<NUM>) for supplying an air flow to said fire box chamber (<NUM>) for combusting said combustible fuel, said first air inlet (<NUM>) being through a side wall (<NUM>) of said fire box (<NUM>); and a heating appliance holder (<NUM>) holding said heating appliance (<NUM>), said heating appliance holder (<NUM>) comprising a holder main body (<NUM>), and a table top holder (<NUM>) for holding said table top (<NUM>),
characterized in that
said heating appliance (<NUM>) includes a fire door (<NUM>) for closing said opening (<NUM>);
said heating appliance (<NUM>) includes a second air inlet (<NUM>) for supplying an air flow to said fire box chamber (<NUM>) for combusting said combustible fuel, wherein said second air inlet (<NUM>) is through said side wall (<NUM>) of said fire box (<NUM>), and said first air inlet (<NUM>) is above said combustible fuel holder (<NUM>) and said second air inlet (<NUM>) is below said combustible fuel holder (<NUM>);
said heating appliance (<NUM>) includes a first control valve (<NUM>) adjacent said side wall (<NUM>) of said fire box (<NUM>) for controlling the supply of air through said first and second air flow inlets (<NUM>, <NUM>), and a first actuator (<NUM>) for actuating said first control valve (<NUM>), wherein said first actuator (<NUM>) extends above said holder main body (<NUM>); and
said table top holder (<NUM>) is spaced apart from said holder main body (<NUM>) by at least one gap (<NUM>).