U.S. patent application number 09/795997 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-25 for collapsible portable outdoor fireplace.
Invention is credited to Bach, Kent, Grady, Jeffrey, Henke, Dave.
Application Number | 20010032642 09/795997 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34068478 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010032642 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bach, Kent ; et al. |
October 25, 2001 |
Collapsible portable outdoor fireplace
Abstract
A collapsible, portable outdoor fireplace with a fire screen
assembly is easily broken down into its constituent components,
which are stored in a space between the cover and bottom members of
the fireplace. A fire screen assembly is supported between the
cover and bottom members and includes a series of individual screen
panels that are hinged together. The fireplace has a support
structure that supports it off the ground and includes pairs of
legs that are attached to the bottom member. The legs may extend
either up through the cover and bottom members or alongside the
bottom member. These support legs terminate in handle portions. The
legs include moveable joints that permit the handles to be
collapsed upon the cover member to retain the cover and base member
together.
Inventors: |
Bach, Kent; (Villa Park,
IL) ; Grady, Jeffrey; (Naperville, IL) ;
Henke, Dave; (Hawthorn Woods, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
David Lesht
Cook, Alex, McFarron, Manzo,
Cummings & Mehler, Ltd.
200 West Adams Street, Suite 2850
Chicago
IL
60606
US
|
Family ID: |
34068478 |
Appl. No.: |
09/795997 |
Filed: |
February 28, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09795997 |
Feb 28, 2001 |
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09526764 |
Mar 16, 2000 |
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6286503 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
126/519 ;
126/506; 126/9R |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24B 1/181 20130101;
A47J 37/0704 20130101; F24B 1/022 20130101; A47J 37/0763
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
126/519 ;
126/506; 126/9.00R |
International
Class: |
F24C 001/16 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A portable outdoor fireplace, comprising: a base member for
supporting and burning combustible material therein; a collapsible
fire screen assembly supported by said base member, said fire
screen assembly defining a fire chamber for containing and
substantially enclosing the combustible material within said base
member, said fire screen assembly including a plurality of
individual screen panels that stand upright upon said base member;
a cover member for covering a top of said fire screen assembly in
opposition to said base member outer rim; and, a support structure
for supporting said base member off the ground, the support
structure including two pairs of support members attached to
opposite ends of said base member, each pair of support members
extending alongside said base member opposite ends and upwardly
above said base member, each pair of support members further
including leg portions extending therefrom at lower ends thereof,
and handle portions interconnecting said pairs of support members
together at upper ends thereof, each support member including a
joint disposed therein between said leg portions and handle
portions, said support member joints permitting said handle
portions to be moved between first and second operative positions,
where in said first operative position, said support member handle
portions stand upright and in said second operative position, said
support member handle portions extend laterally over said cover
member at an angle from said support member leg portion, and said
cover member includes a latch member that engages said handle
portions when said handle portions are in said second operative
position to thereby hold said cover member in a closed position on
top of said base member.
2. The portable outdoor fireplace as defined in claim 1, wherein
said support member leg portions extend outwardly at an angle with
respect to said base member.
3. The portable outdoor fireplace as defined in claim 2, wherein
said support member leg portions include extensions that
telescopingly engage said support members and are detachable from
said support members.
4. The portable outdoor fireplace as defined in claim 1, wherein
said fire screen assembly includes a plurality of screen panels
connected together, and including a rear screen panel, two side
screen panels and at least one screen panel door, said rear and
side screen panels being hinged together and said one screen door
panel being removably hinged to one of said side screen panels so
that said one screen panel door may be selectively removed from
said side screen panel and laid flat upon one of said side and rear
screen panels between said base and cover members.
5. The portable outdoor fireplace as defined in claim 4, wherein
said fire screen assembly includes two screen door panels, each of
said screen door panels being removably hinged to one of said
screen side panels, and each of said screen door panels including
an engagement clip for engaging said base member and retaining said
screen door panels in place.
6. The portable outdoor fireplace as defined in claim 1, wherein
said base and cover members each have an interior rim for
contacting said fire screen assembly, said base and cover member
interior rims having slots formed therein and said fire screen
assembly having tabs extending therefrom that are received within
said base and cover member slots.
7. The portable outdoor fireplace as defined in claim 1, further
including a handle attached to said cover member, the handle having
two C-shaped clip members associated therewith that are
complementary in shape to said support member handle portions, each
clip member having a slot disposed therein for receiving said
handle portions to hold said cover member in a closed position upon
said base member when said handle is in said second operative
position.
8. The portable outdoor fireplace as defined in claim 7, wherein
said clip member slots face upwardly.
9. The portable outdoor fireplace as defined in claim 1, wherein
each of said cover and base members include a outer rim that
extends around common perimeters thereof, said support members
extending alongside said outer rims.
10. The portable outdoor fireplace as defined in claim 1, wherein
said cover and base member each have a semi-circular
configuration.
11. The portable outdoor fireplace as defined in claim 4, wherein
each of said screen panels are generally rectangular in shape.
12. A collapsible, portable outdoor fireplace, comprising: a base
member for supporting combustible material therein, the base member
having a predetermined configuration with an outer rim; a cover
member having a predetermined configuration that matches that of
said base member, the cover member also having a outer rim, said
cover member being engageable with said base member along said
outer rims thereof; a collapsible fire screen assembly supported on
said base member for substantially enclosing said combustible
material within said base member, said fire screen assembly
including a plurality of individual screen panels that stand
upright upon said base member to define said fire screen assembly,
said screen panels being capable of being at least partially
disassembled and folded upon each other into a substantially flat
shape for storage in a open space defined between said base and
cover members; and, a pair of supports for supporting said
fireplace off the ground, the supports each including two
elongated, hollow tubes attached to opposite ends of said base
member and which have lower leg portions that extend away from said
base member, the pairs of tubes being interconnected by handle
portions at their top ends above said leg portions, said supports
further including joints disposed therein between said handle
portions and said leg portion, said joints permitting said handle
portions to be moved between first and second operative handle
positions, where in said first operative position, said handle
portions may extend upright and above said cover member, and in
said second operative position, said handle portions may be moved
at an angle from said supports into contact with said cover member,
said cover member having a latch assembly disposed thereon that
secures both of said handle portions to said cover member such that
said handle portions secure said cover member to said base
member.
13. The collapsible, portable outdoor fireplace as defined in claim
12, wherein said fire screen assembly includes a rear screen panel,
two side screen panels and at least one screen panel door, said
rear and side screen panels being hinged together along interior
corners of said fire screen assembly, and said one screen door
panel being removably hinged to one of said side screen panels so
that said screen door panel may be removed from said fire screen
assembly.
14. The collapsible, portable outdoor fireplace as defined in claim
13, wherein said side screen panels of said fire screen assembly
may be folded upon said rear screen panel in a flat configuration
and said one screen door panel may be removed from said side screen
panel, said fire screen assembly having dimensions which permit it
to be stored within said open space between said cover and base
members.
15. The portable outdoor fireplace as defined in claim 12, wherein
said support leg portions include extension members that
telescopingly engage said supports and are detachable from said
supports.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part application of prior
application Ser. No. 09/526,764, filed Mar. 16, 2000.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to portable
fireplaces, and more particularly, to a portable outdoor fireplace
having a collapsible nature.
[0003] Fixed outdoor fireplaces, such as those made from brick,
masonry and the like have been known for years. Portable outdoor
fireplaces have recently entered the marketplace and have evidenced
a distinct popularity. The size of these portable fireplaces is
small and their structures are such that they permit them to be
easily moved from one location to the other. Such fireplaces are
found in the patent literature.
[0004] U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 293,191, issued Dec, 15, 1997
describes a portable outdoor fireplace which incorporates the top
and bottom covers of the well-known Weber "Kettle" grill spaced
apart by an internal framework that defines a fire pit area. The
internal framework must be removed to close the top and bottom
covers together. No provision is made for storing the internal
framework within the top and bottom covers, and hence these type
fireplaces require a large area for storage.
[0005] Another outdoor fireplace is described in U.S. Pat. No.
5,596,980, issued Jan. 28, 1997 that is similar to the structure
shown in the aforementioned '191 design patent but which further
includes a functional fire screen assembly in which a plurality of
screens are fixed within a cylindrical frame assembly. This frame
assembly includes top and bottom ring members that are spaced apart
by columns. The fire screen assembly is large and must be removed
and stored separately from the top and bottom covers. This
fireplace cannot be easily disassembled and stored in a minimum
amount of space because the internal framework of it cannot be
easily disassembled.
[0006] Another outdoor fireplace is described in U.S. Pat. No.
5,832,915 issued Nov. 10, 1998 in which two hollow rectangular top
and bottom members support a fire screen. The bottom member has a
series of slots formed in it that receive individual legs. The legs
may be inserted into similar slots or the top member to hold the
two members together. The legs are slid into slots and are
therefore prone to sliding out over when the unit is picked up
because they are not attached to the unit. As such, they are prone
to being lost. The legs of the unit do not remain on the fireplace
when it is in a collapsed configuration.
[0007] The aforementioned patent application, Ser. No. 09/526,764,
illustrates a fireplace with a handle assembly with supports that
extends through a set of opposing rims, or hanger. The cover member
is able to be moved up and down along these support members.
However, moving the cover member may cause movement of the support
members, thus jeopardizing the stability of the fireplace.
[0008] The prior art therefore lacks a collapsible portable outdoor
fireplace having a support assembly that remains attached to the
base when the fireplace is collapsed and which avoids the
aforementioned stability problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention is directed to a portable outdoor
fireplace with a collapsible that overcomes the aforementioned
shortcomings. is therefore a general object of the present
invention to provide a collapsible fireplace that is suitable for
outdoor use and having a large fire chamber, but which is
constructed so that it may be easily assembled and
disassembled.
[0010] Another object of the present invention to provide a
collapsible portable outdoor fireplace and grill that includes
opposing base and cover portions, a fire screen assembly supported
on the base portion and which extends up from the base portion to
define an enclosed fire area therewithin, the fire screen assembly
being easily collapsible upon itself for storing between the top
and bottom cover members, the fireplace having a handle assembly
that is movable between two positions, the handle assembly serving
as a means for retaining the top and bottom cover members together
when the fireplace is collapsed.
[0011] A still further object of the present invention is to
provide an outdoor fireplace having a base member that supports a
fire screen assembly having a plurality of screen panels, the
screen assembly being from a large configuration to a small
configuration for storage between the top and bottom members
thereof, and at least one of the screen panels forming a door of
the assembly through which access to the interior of the fireplace
may be had.
[0012] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
portable outdoor fireplace having top and bottom cover members, the
cover members being spaced apart from each other by a fire screen
assembly, the fireplace including a support structure attached
thereto and which supports the bottom member off of the ground, the
support structure including pairs of support legs, the legs having
upright extensions that pass through the top and bottom cover
members so that the top cover member is slidable on the extensions
between an open and a collapsed configuration, the extensions being
hinged for folding upon the top cover member to retain the
fireplace in a collapsed configuration.
[0013] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
collapsible portable outdoor fireplace and grill having opposing
base and cover portions, the base portion of which providing a
support combustible material, the fireplace including a fire screen
assembly formed from multiple screen panels, some of which are
hinged together and others are attached together with pop-out hinge
pins, the fire screen assembly being capable of being disassembled
into a flat shape and dimensioned to fit between the base and cover
portions of the fireplace, the fireplace further having two
supports attached to its base member at opposite sides thereof, the
supports extending upright and having joints associated therewith
interposed between handle and leg portions thereof so that the
handles may be pivoted toward each other into engagement with
opposing latches that are formed as part of a handle assembly on
the top of the cover portion.
[0014] The present invention accomplishes these objects in
accordance with one principal aspect thereof by utilizing a pair of
hollow, top and bottom members that serve as respective cover and
base members for the fireplace. A fire screen assembly is supported
on the bottom member in order to provide an enclosure for retaining
combustible material within the fireplace. The fire screen assembly
includes a plurality of individual screen panels that are hinged
together, with one or two of the screen panels serving as hinged
doors that may be opened without interfering with the cover or
bottom member.
[0015] In another principal aspect of the present invention, the
portable outdoor fireplace is easily collapsible without the need
for tools. Due to their hinged nature, the fire screen panels may
be collapsed, or folded, into a flat configuration so that the
assembly can be easily stored between the cover and base members.
The fireplace is supported off of the ground by a support assembly
which includes pairs of posts disposed at the opposite ends of the
fireplace. These posts extend through at least the cover member of
the fireplace in a manner so that the cover member may be slid up
and down along the posts away from or near the base member. The
cover member is normally supported by the fire screen assembly, but
when the fire screen assembly need be removed, the top member is
supported on a pair of catch members that are disposed on the
posts. In this configuration, the spacing between the top and
bottom fireplace members is increased so that the fire screen
assembly may be easily removed from the fireplace.
[0016] The posts also define as a handle structure for the
fireplace. In this regard, they include movable joints that permit
movement in one direction but not in another direction, so that the
posts may be folded upon the fireplace cover member, thereby
reducing the height of the fireplace when it is collapsed. The
posts may further have handle portions disposed on their ends and,
when collapsed upon the top member, the handle portions may engage
the fireplace cover member in a snap-fit type of engagement in
order to hold them in place on the cover member and hold the cover
and bottom members together. This aspect of the present invention
enables the portable outdoor fireplace of the present invention to
be assembled, used, and disassembled without the requirement of
tools.
[0017] The fire screen assembly is hinged together and has a
preferred rectangular configuration so that it may be collapsed
upon itself into a flat screen structure. The flatness of this
collapsed screen structure permits it to be easily stored between
the top and bottom members of the fireplace. Additionally, the top
and bottom fireplace members each have an outwardly extending
flange that runs continuously around the edges thereof. This flange
not only support a grill and the fire screen assembly, but also
provides an area through which the fireplace posts extend. The
flanges further permit the fire screen assembly to fit inside of
the posts, thereby saving time and effort when removing the fire
screen assembly and when collapsing the fireplace.
[0018] In a second embodiment of the invention, the cover and base
portions have rims of reduced width at the ends of the fireplace.
The support members in this embodiment do not extend up through the
rims but are attached to the base member only. These support
members have joints formed therein at a level that is above the top
of the cover member so that top ends of the supports may be pivoted
toward each other and the center of the cover member. A handle
member is provided on the cover with two opposing receptacles into
which the tops of the supports latch.
[0019] Also in this embodiment, the screen door panels of the fire
screen assembly can be disconnected from the rest of the screen
assembly so that they can lie flat on the remaining screen panels
between the cover and base members. The support members include
telescoping leg portions that can be disassembled and stored
between the base and cover members.
[0020] These and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will be clearly understood through a
consideration of the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] In the course of this detailed description, the reference
will be frequently made to the attached drawings in which:
[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a compact, portable outdoor
fireplace constructed in accordance with the principles of the
present invention;
[0023] FIG. 2 is an end view of the fireplace of FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the fireplace of FIG.
1;
[0025] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the fireplace of FIG. 1;
[0026] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the fireplace of FIG. 1 in a
collapsed configuration wherein the fire screens of the fireplace
are accommodated between the top and bottom members thereof;
[0027] FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of the fireplace of FIG.
5;
[0028] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the fireplace of FIG. 1 with
its fire screen assembly removed for complete access to the
interior grill portion thereof;
[0029] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the fire screen assembly used
in the fireplace of FIGS. 1-7 and illustrating one manner in which
it may be folded upon itself for storage within the fireplace;
[0030] FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a support assembly used to
support the fireplace off the ground.
[0031] FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of an alternate
embodiment of a fireplace of the present invention, illustrating an
alternate handle arrangement;
[0032] FIG. 11 is an end elevational view of the fireplace of FIG.
9;
[0033] FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the fireplace of FIG. 1,
taken along lines 12-12 thereof;
[0034] FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the fireplace of FIG. 1 taken
along lines 13-13 thereof;
[0035] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a
fireplace constructed in accordance with the principles of the
present invention;
[0036] FIG. 15 is an exploded view of the fireplace of FIG. 14
illustrating certain components thereof disassembled therefrom for
storage between the base and cover members;
[0037] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the fireplace with FIG. 14
with its collapsible components stored between the top and bottom
portions thereof;
[0038] FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of the fireplace of FIG.
16; and,
[0039] FIG. 18A is an end elevational view of the fireplace of FIG.
14;
[0040] FIG. 18B is an end elevational view of the fireplace in the
collapsed condition illustrated in FIG. 16; and,
[0041] FIG. 19 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section of the
engagement which occurs between the fire screen assembly and the
base and cover members.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0042] FIG. 1 illustrates a portable outdoor fireplace 30,
constructed in accordance with the principles of the present
invention. The fireplace 30 includes opposing top and bottom
members 31, 32, with each of the members 31, 32 being hollow. In
the embodiment shown, the top and bottom members 31, 32 have a
rectangular perimeter 34 and a semi-circular or semi-cylindrical
cavity 35. These members may be easily formed out of sheet metal,
such as by drawing or stamping.
[0043] Each of the members 31, 32 has a rim portion 36 that
includes what may be considered as formed from a pair of flanges
38, 39. One of the flanges 38 extends generally horizontally while
the other of the flanges 39 extends generally vertically. This is
illustrated best in FIG. 12. The combination of the horizontal and
vertical flanges cooperatively define the rim portion 36 which
supports the fire screen assembly 40 and a cooking grill 80, if
desired, as well as a support structure. This rim portion 36
extends around the perimeter of the hollow cavity defined in both
the top and bottom members 31, 32. The hollow cavity 35 portion of
the bottom member 32 serves as an area that holds combustible
material, such as wood, charcoal, or the like, as well as supports,
if desired, a cooking grill 48. A series of support tabs, or pegs,
50 may be provided to support a grate 49 that holds combustible
material off of the bottom member 31 and provides a channel for air
underneath the material. These pegs 50 are shown as screws that
extend through holes in the walls of the bottom member 32, but may
also be tabs attached to the interior face thereof. It will be
understood that the particular configuration of the top and bottom
members illustrated, i.e., the semi-cylindrical configuration, are
for purposes of example only and that many other suitable
configurations, such as hemispherical, may be used.
[0044] The top and bottom members 31, 32 have similar shapes and as
shown in the drawings, the two members may be somewhat mirror
images of each other. In this depicted semi-cylindrical
configuration, they cooperatively define, when the fireplace is
collapsed, a distinctive overall cylindrical configuration. (FIG.
6.) A fire screen assembly 40 is provided that extends around the
rim portion 36 and which provides a protection to the fireplace in
order to retain burning embers and other hot material that is
generated in the use of the fireplace.
[0045] Turning to FIGS. 3 and 7, the fire screen assembly 40 is
provided in a "segmented" format. That is, the assembly 40 includes
a plurality of individual screen panels 41-45 that are
interconnected together at approximately the corners of the top and
bottom members 31, 32. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the
fire screen assembly 40 includes five such screen panels 41-45. One
of the screen panels 41 forms the rear of the screen assembly 40
and extends for approximately slightly less than the entire length
L of the fireplace. Two of the screen panels 42, 43 form side
panels of the screen assembly 40 and extend for approximately
slightly less than the entire width W of the fireplace 30. The
front of the fire screen assembly 40 may include a pair of screen
door panels 44, 45 that cooperatively extend to approximately the
front length of the fireplace. These panels 44, 45 preferably have
an extent such that they meet in approximately the middle of the
front of the fireplace. The screen door panels 44, 45 may include
outwardly extending flanges 51 that can serve as handles which a
user may grasp to open and close the door panels 44, 45. The screen
door panels 44, 45 may also include tabs 52 on their interior faces
to engage the edge rim 36 of the bottom member 32 to restrain the
door panels from opening inadvertently.
[0046] The door screen panels 41-45 are all hinged together so
that, as illustrated in FIG. 8, they may be folded upon themselves.
In this regard, and as depicted in FIG. 8, the two side panels 42,
43 are preferably hinged so that they fold inwardly upon the rear
screen panel 41. The screen door panels 44, 45 are connected to the
side screen panels 42, 43 so that they may fold upon the side
screen panels in the opposite direction than the direction in which
the side screen panels fold upon the rear screen panel. The screen
assembly 40 may thus be folded up in an accordion-style fashion to
take an overall flat configuration. The screen panels 41-45 are
connected together using conventional hinges 54a, 54b. In order to
effect the preferred folding, the hinges may be alternatingly
placed on the interior and exterior corners of the fire screen
assembly 40. In this manner, the hinges 54a connecting the rear
screen panel 41 to the side screen panels 42, 43 are placed along
interior faces, while the hinges 54b connecting the side screen
panels 42, 43 to the screen door panels 44, 45 are placed along
exterior faces. The hinges 54b may be of the type that have hinge
slots that receive pins disposed on the screen door panels 44, 45
so that the door panels may be removed when necessary, so that the
fireplace may be used with only three screen panels 41, 42 and
43.
[0047] Importantly, the screen assembly 40 has an overall length
L.sub.s that is less than the intervening length L.sub.p between
the pairs of posts 50. This difference in length permits the screen
assembly 40 to be at least partially folded up and easily removed
from the fireplace 30.
[0048] FIG. 13 best illustrates the relationship of the fire screen
assembly dimensions to the dimensions of the bottom member 32. As
mentioned previously, the interior rim 36 of both cover and base
members 31, 32 is wide and is defined by the horizontal flange
portion 38 of the rim 36. This horizontal flange portion 38 is wide
enough to accommodate openings 56 therein that are sized to receive
the posts 59 of the fireplace support structure 60. The openings 56
are disposed within the boundaries of the flange 38, while the
length L.sub.s of the screen assembly 40 is less than the length
between the posts 59. In this manner, the posts 59 and screen
assembly 40 will not interfere with each other. Also, the fire
screen assembly 40 may be removed without taking the top off
because the support structure 60 is not structurally or otherwise
connected to the fire screen assembly 40.
[0049] The support structure 60 includes pairs of legs 61 that are
mounted to the ends of the bottom member 32 such as by bolts 65 or
any other suitable fastening means. The legs 61, as illustrated,
have an angled portion 66 for contacting the ground and a vertical,
or upright portion 67 that extends upwards and which is attached to
the bottom member 32. These upright portions 67 extend through the
openings 56 in the rim flanges 38 and thus serve, in combination
with the angled portions, to maintain the bottom member 32 off the
ground.
[0050] The support structure 60 further includes handle portions 63
that are preferably disposed at the ends of extension portions 62
of the legs 61. These extension portions 62 are illustrated best in
FIG. 9 and, as shown may be of a slip-fit nature, although other
suitable constructions may be used. The extension portions 62
contain hinges, moveable joints, such as pivot members or knuckles
64, that allow part of the extension portions 62, including the
handle portions 63 to be moved between a first operative position,
such as the upright position shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 7, and a second
operative position, such as the flat position shown in FIGS. 5, 6,
10 and 11. Preferably, these joints 64 permit movement in one
direction (toward the cover member 31 and back) but do not permit
movement in the opposite direction (to the outer side of the
fireplace 30) so that the posts 59 will remain erect, when needed.
The support structure 60 may thereupon be considered to have at
least a C-shaped configuration in which the legs 61 act as the free
ends of the "C", while the handle portions 63 would act as the
backbone of the "C". These posts 59, as do the entire support
structure 60, serve to maintain the cover member 31 in alignment
and opposition with the base member 32.
[0051] This first operative position is suitable for use with the
fire screen assembly 40 in place on the bottom member 32, as
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, as well as the extended configuration
illustrated in FIG. 7, where the fire screen assembly 40 has been
removed. In this extended configuration, the vertical distance
between the cover and base members 31, 32 exceeds the height of the
fire screen assembly 40, so that it may be removed and collapsed
into a flat configuration where it may be stored in the cavity
formed by the cover and base members 31, 32. In order to hold the
cover member 31 in this extended position, the support structure 60
includes means for supporting the cover member 31, shown
illustrated as taking the form of catches 68. The catches 68
illustrated are wire formed members with two ends 69 interconnected
by an intervening hook portion 70. (FIGS. 2 and 7.) The hook
portion 70 is of such a configuration that it preferably includes a
nest 71 in which the rim 38 of the cover member 31 will seat, as
shown in FIG. 7. Alternate styles of support means are also
contemplated and the catches 68 illustrated are merely exemplary of
one form thereof. These catches 68 may be easily moved into and out
of engagement with the cover member rim 38.
[0052] The moveable joints 64 of the support structure 60 permit
the extension portions 62 to be folded upon the cover member 31 as
best illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. The joints 64 are preferably
located on the support structure so that they will approximately
coincide with the edges 73 of the cover member 31 when the cover
member 31 is placed directly on the base member 32. In this regard,
the upper part of the extension portions 62 may be folded down upon
the cover member 31 as shown in FIG. 5. In order to facilitate the
sliding movement of the cover member 31 upon the posts 59, the
cover member 31 has a handle 75 disposed thereon. The handle 75 has
means for engaging the posts 59 in the form of a pair of recesses
76 that are sized to receive and retain thereon the handle portions
63 therein in a snap-fit type of engagement. These recesses 76 are
shown as semi-circular so as to match the configuration of the
handle portions 63 and to thereby facilitate the snap-fit
engagement. Other configurations may be used that are complementary
in shape to the handle portions and other means, such as latches
that may be attached to either the cover member 31 of the handle
portions 63 themselves are also contemplated.
[0053] FIGS. 7 and 10-11 illustrate an alternate embodiments of a
fireplace 100 of the present invention. In this embodiment, the
support structure 101 that holds the bottom member 102 off the
ground has a runner 103 that interconnects the pairs of legs 104
together. The handle portions 106 engage a clip 107 attached to the
cover member 108.
[0054] The fireplace 30 may also contain one or more vents 80
disposed in the endwall of the cover or base members 31, 32. The
vents may be adjusted to control the amount of air entering the
fireplace 30 in the area beneath the grate 49. Turning to FIG. 12,
it can be seen that the side screen panels 42, 43 each have support
feet 85 that rest upon the interior rims 30 of the cover and base
members 31, 32. These feet 85 preferably may fit outside of or
within openings of an elongated grill member 86. The screen
assembly 40, as shown in FIG. 8, may include support members 87
arranged at different elevations to provide the user with a choice
of grilling distances.
[0055] The openings 59 that enclose the support structure 60 are
shown in the drawing as capturing the cover member 31, in that the
cover member cannot be lifted off of the fireplace because the
handle portions 63 cannot pass through the cover member rim portion
36. In an alternate embodiment, as shown by the phantom lines 90 in
FIG. 13, the portion of the rim 36 that extends between the
openings 56 may be removes so that the cover and base members have
a slot 91 formed therein rather than a pair of openings. This slot
91 would be large enough to accommodate the upper part, i.e., the
handle portions 63, of the support structure 60 so that the cover
member 31 may be lifted off of it without requiring the handle
portions 63 to be removed.
[0056] FIGS. 14-18 illustrates another embodiment of a fireplace
constructed in accordance with the principles of the present
invention. This fireplace 200 has a hollow base member 201 and a
hollow cover member 202 of similar dimension, with each member
having respective hollow cavities 211, 212. Each such member is
preferably semi-cylindrical as illustrated and has two opposing
ends 204 that extend transverse to the curved sidewall 205 that
gives the members and their cavities their semi-circular or
semi-cylindrical shape. Each such member 201, 202 may have a rim
portion 209, 210 that extends around the perimeter of their
respective cavities 211, 212. These rim portions, or flanges 209,
210 provide support for both a cooking grill 214 and a fire screen
assembly 215.
[0057] The rim portions 209, 210 are generally rectangular in their
extent and a fire screen assembly 215 is provided to partially
enclose the hollow area of the base member 201 by itself or
completely enclose it when the cover member 202 is applied to it.
(FIG. 14.) The fire screen assembly 215 includes, as illustrated,
four or more individual screen panels 216-220 that are preferably
interconnected by hinges 222. The two side screen panels 216, 217
and rear screen panel 218 are preferably interconnected by
permanent hinges so that the three screen panels can be moved as a
unit.
[0058] The two screen panels 216, 217 may include, as shown, hinge
members 223 that notably connect with like hinge members 224 on the
door panels 219 and 220. These hinge members permit the door panels
219, 220 to be removed and stored separately between the base and
cover members 201, 202. The three other screen panels 216-218 have
engagement tabs or posts 225, preferably on both their top and
bottom edges 260, 261 that engage the base and cover members to
hold the screen panels in place. As shown in FIG. 19, these
engagement posts 225 are located at or near the corners of the fire
screen assembly 215 and project upwardly or downwardly through
slots 271 that are formed in the outer rims 209, 210 of the base
and cover members 201, 202.
[0059] The door panels 219, 220 may also include handles 226 by
which a user can grasp to open and close the door panels 219, 220.
Clips 269 (FIGS. 15 & 18A) may be located on the bottom edges
261 of the screen door panels 219, 220 for engaging the bottom
cover member outer rim 209, so that when the screen door panels
219, 220 are closed, they will remain closed.
[0060] The fireplace 200 is supported by a pair of supports 230,
231 that extend upright alongside and above the fireplace 200. As
shown in the drawings, each support 230, 231 includes a pair of
elongated tubes 235 that are attached to the ends 204 of the
fireplace by a suitable attachment means, such as a series of bolts
236. Each tube has an upright section 238 that ends in an angled
portion 239. The lower part of these tubes are angled to form leg
portions of the fireplace that support it off the ground, and these
angled portions serve as leg portions of the support members.
Extensions 240 are preferably provided to increase the height at
which the base member may be supported off the ground.
[0061] The support member tubes 235 are preferably hollow and are
open at their lower ends so the elongated leg extensions 240 may be
telescopingly engaged with them (i.e., the end of one fits within
the end of another) to provide a greater level of support off of
the ground. These leg portions are of a sufficient length to
support the fireplace 200 on the ground and still be stored, when
disassembled, in the space between the base and cover members 201,
202 that is defined by their two matching cavities 209, 210.
[0062] At their upper ends, the support tubes 235 are likewise
preferably interconnected at their top ends 242 to form a pair of
handle portions 243. The handle portions 243 permit the fireplace
to be moved by a user when in its assembled condition (FIG. 14) and
as stated below, serve to hold the cover member 202 upon the base
member 201 when the fireplace is in a collapsed condition. (FIG.
16.) Joints 245 are present in the support tubes 235 and are
interposed between the handle portions 243 and the mounting bolts
236. The joints 245 may be formed as pressed tubes joints shown
where the ends of the support members are flattened and pinned
together, or other suitable joints may be used.
[0063] These joints 245 permit pivoting movement of the upper
portions of the support tubes 235 and are preferably located at a
distance above the exterior surface of cover member 202. (FIG.
18A.) The support handle portions 243 may be then pivoted into a
storage position where it is engaged with the cover member 202 as
illustrated in FIGS. 16 & 17. In this regard, the cover member
202 is provided with a handle 250 having a backbone portion 251
extending between two free ends 252, 253.
[0064] The handle 250 has a general U-shape that is inverted as
illustrated, so that the two free ends 252, 253 may engage the
cover member, such as by welding or screws, and also each include a
clip 254 having a C-shape that defines a slot 255 into which the
support handle portions latch. The slots 255 open upwardly as
shown, but they may oriented in other directions. The U-shaped
handle and C-shaped clips are arranged in inverted fashion with the
handle 250 facing downwardly and the clips 254 facing upwardly. The
handle portions 243 and the clips are complementary in shape so
that the handle portions 243 may be retained therein to securely
hold the cover member 202 in place upon the base member 201.
[0065] In this embodiment, the support members are located exterior
of and alongside the base and cover member rims 209, 210 so that
the cover member 202 may be easily removed or put into place on top
of either the fire screen assembly 215 or the base member 201,
without fear of compromising the stability of fireplace.
[0066] While the preferred embodiment of the invention have been
shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the
art that changes and modifications may be made therein without
departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is
defined by the appended claims.
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