Portable Charcoal Stove

Abstract

A portable and nestable hibachi type stove having two housings defining a first chamber and a larger second chamber, respectively, each of the housings having a tapered wall configuration extending between a larger open end and a smaller open end. A grate, a rack and one or more draft openings are provided in each housing, with the smaller ends of each housing being of like size and configuration for mating with one another. Either housing can serve as an upper firebox chamber or a lower preignition chamber to allow selection of different size cooking surfaces, and the entire stove structure is demountable and nestable for ease of storage and transportation.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to charcoal cooking stoves and more particularly to a portable and nestable hibachi type stove having separate firebox and preignition chambers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Portable charcoal or other solid fuel burning stoves have been known for many years and are widely used for outdoor cooking. The prior art has provided a variety of hibachi type stoves for outdoor cooking, however, many of such stoves are cumbersome and require petrochemical ignition agents for firing the charcoal. In accordance with the present invention a hibachi type stove is provided having the combined features of ease of assembly without tools even under outdoor conditions, nestability for storage and transportation in a compact package, ease of solid fuel ignition without petrochemical ignition agents, and selectability of different size cooking surfaces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the invention provides a hibachi type stove having separate firebox and preignition chambers for the rapid ignition of charcoal or other suitable solid fuel without need for elaborate mechanical or petrochemical ignitors, and which is conveniently demountable and nestable for ease of storage or transit, while providing versatility in the choice of cooking surface areas. The hibachi stove of the present invention is particularly well suited for igniting and burning charcoal or other solid fuel in the firebox chamber by using crumpled paper or other readily available kindling materials as a preignition agent in the preignition chamber. More particularly, the advantages and benefits of the present invention are achieved by the operative dispositions of a larger and a smaller chamber defined by two tapered wall housings, and wherein the smaller ends of each housing are of like size and configuration for mating with one another. Either the larger or smaller chamber can serve as the upper firebox chamber or the lower preignition chamber to allow a selection of different size cooking surfaces.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a cutaway pictorial view of a preferred embodiment of a hibachi type stove according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of a further embodiment of a stove according to the invention in one operative form;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the novel stove in a second operative form;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view illustrating a pyramidal configuration of the novel stove;

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the novel stove illustrating separate use of both housings; and

FIG. 6 is a partly cutaway elevation view of the invention in nested form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the present invention will be described, by way of example and for convenience, with respect to a hibachi type stove having conically shaped housings, it will be understood that the invention has a wide range of applicability to other shapes and configurations of the housings.

With reference now to FIG. 1, there is shown an operative embodiment of the present invention, having an elongated stove 10 which is comprised of two conically shaped housings, an upper housing 12 into which charcoal or other suitable solid fuel can be placed and which functions as a firebox or heat generating chamber, and a lower housing 14 that serves as a preignition chamber in which a suitable preignition agent such as paper, cardboard, or other kindling is placed for ignition of the charcoal or other solid fuel contained in housing 12. The top housing 12 is defined by an encircling tapered wall 16 which defines a chamber 17. The inwardly and downwardly tapered wall of housing 12 terminates at a folded lip 18 which is of a size and configuration for mating with a like lip portion provided on housing 14. Alternative means for mating housings 12 and 14 are contemplated. For example, truncated ends of housings 12 and 14 can be dimensioned to support one another, or various collar configurations can be employed for supporting either housing atop the other. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper or larger end of wall 16 terminates at a folded lip 20 to add strength to housing 12 and for support of mounting prongs 21 of a cooking rack 22. Located below and substantially parallel to folded lip 20 are projections 24 extending inwardly in chamber 17 and operative to provide ridges 26 substantially parallel to lip 20 for support of a suitably sized grate 28.

A plurality of draft openings 31 are arranged around folded lip 18 for supplying air to chamber 17 when top housing 12 is separated from the lower housing 14 in the event independent operation of housing 12 is desired, as is illustrated in FIG. 5. Handles 32 are attached substantially opposite each other on wall 16 for removing housing 12 from housing 14 after ignition of the solid fuel, or for other handling purposes. Draft and ignition openings 30, four of which are shown, are arranged equispaced around wall 16 at a position lip 20 and ridges 26. These openings 30 serve as draft holes for fuel on grate 48 when housing 12 is employed as a preignition chamber unit, and also serve to ignite a preignition material contained in chamber 17 when housing 12 is employed as a preignition unit, as shown in FIG. 3.

The lower housing 14 is defined by an encircling tapered wall 36 which defines a chamber 15 and is constructed similarly to housing 12. The inwardly and upwardly tapered wall 36 terminates in a folded lip 34 which is of a size and configuration for removably supporting lip 18 of chamber 17. The larger end of encircling wall 36 terminates in a folded lip 38 for support of mounting prongs 39 of a cooking rack 40 or for support of housing 12, depending on the use intended. Located above and substantially parallel to lip 38 are projections 42 directed inwardly around the circumference of wall 36 to provide ridges 44 in chamber 15 substantially parallel to lip 38 and which support grate 48 in a position generally parallel to the larger and smaller ends of housing 14 when in the disposition as shown in FIG. 3. Also located in wall 36 are draft and ignition openings 50, four being shown, arranged equipspaced around the wall at a position between ridges 44 and lip 38. These openings function for either ignition of kindling or as draft holes for the solid fuel, depending on the mode of use. Draft openings 51 are arranged equispaced around folded lip 34 for supplying air to chamber 15 when the smaller housing 14 is separated from the larger housing 12, when independent operation is desired as illustrated in FIG. 5. Draft openings 51 and 31 may be closed during the initial period of ignition of charcoal in chamber 17 by setting the equispaced draft openings in a non-aligned position as shown in FIG. 1. Handles 52 are attached substantially opposite each other on wall 36 for removing housing 12 from housing 14 after ignition and for other handling purposes.

A further embodiment of the novel stove of the present invention is depicted in FIG. 2 wherein folded lip 20 terminates in a projection 23 around the circumference of wall 16 for support of a removably disposed cooking rack 22. Located below and substantially parallel to projection 23 are a plurality of flanges 27 for support of a suitably sized grate 28. Similarly, in lower housing 14 folded lip 38 terminates in a projection 37 around the circumference of wall 36 for support of a removably disposed cooking rack 40. Located below and substantially parallel to projection 37 are flanges 41 for support of a suitably sized grate 48 when in a disposition similar to the depiction in FIG. 3. Supporting the hibachi stove 10 is a lid member 54 which is of sufficient size and configuration to cover the larger opening of housing 12 and which can be used as a cover when the unit is not in use or as a solid cooking grill as shown in FIG. 4. An optional cover (not shown) similar to cover 54 can be provided which fits over the larger end of chamber 15 and which may be used to keep the cooking racks clean or as a solid cooking surface when chamber 15 is used as the cooking chamber.

The operative arrangement as depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 illustrates a disposition of the hibachi type stove wherein the smaller chamber 15 operates as the preignition chamber and chamber 17 operates as the firebox and cooking chamber. In the disposition illustrate by FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, a large size cooking surface is provided with the charcoal or other suitable solid fuel contained on grate 28 being ignited by crumpled paper, cardboard, small kindling or other suitable preignition agent by the heat generated thereby being focused and directed from the preignition chamber 15 for rapid and efficient ignition of the solid fuel contained on grate 28 in the firebox chamber 17.

A further operative mode of the hibachi type stove of the present invention is depicted in FIG. 3 wherein the smaller chamber 15 has become the firebox chamber and the large chamber 17 has become the preignition chamber. In FIG. 3, the charcoal or other suitable fuel is placed on grate 48 while the preignition agent is placed on or in chamber 17. After the charcoal or other solid fuel contained in the firebox chamber is ignited by the preignition agent the firebox unit may then be separated from the preignition unit by lifting the cooking unit or firebox unit from the preignition unit with handles 52 in the event independent operation is desired as is illustrated in FIG. 5.

A further embodiment of the stove is depicted in FIG. 4 wherein the tapered wall configuration is of pyramidal form and wherein grate 28 is supported by a continuous ridge 56 around the circumference of wall 16 and grate 48 is supported by a continuous ridge 58 around the circumference of wall 36. Various means for supporting the racks and grates in the stove are of course deemed to be within the scope of the invention.

A further form of the novel stove is depicted in FIG. 5 wherein housing 12 and 14 are demounted for independent operation providing two usable cooking surfaces, and wherein the structure is otherwise as in the previous figures.

Referring to FIG. 6, the demountable and nestable feature of the present invention is illustrated with the housings 12 and 14 in nested arrangement such as for storage or transportation. In nesting the stove as shown in FIG. 5, the housings 12 and 14 are separated, with grate 48 and rack 40 remaining in the smaller housing 14. The housing 14 is then nested within the chamber 17 of housing 12 after removal of grate 28 and rack 22. Handles 52 of the smaller housing 14 may be positioned as shown against tapered wall 16 when the chambers are nested to aid in ease of removal of housing 14 from housing 12. Grate 28 is placed within the larger open end of housing 12 and rack 22 is then placed thereover to complete the nested assembly. Nested together in this manner, the novel hibachi of the present invention is easily transportable and storable.

While the present invention has been described in accordance with illustrative embodiments, it is recognized that modifications in the size, configuration and arrangement of particular implementations will occur to one skilled in the art, and it is thus intended that the appended claims cover all such improvements.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A portable and nestable hibachi type stove comprising:

a first housing defining a first chamber and having a tapered wall configuration extending between a larger open end and a smaller open end generally parallel to said larger end;

at least one draft opening in the wall of said first housing near the larger end thereof;

a second housing defining a second chamber smaller than said first chamber and having a tapered wall configuration sized and shaped to permit nesting of said second housing within said first housing when said stove is not in use;

said tapered wall configuration of said second housing extending between a larger open end and a smaller open end generally parallel thereto;

the smaller open ends of said first and second housings being of like configuration and having means for supporting said housing one atop the other in either a first disposition with said first housing supported by said second housing or in a second disposition with said second housing supported by said first housing;

at least one draft opening in the wall of said second housing near the larger end thereof;

a first grate supportable in said first housing in a position generally parallel to the larger and smaller ends thereof and intermediate said ends;

a first rack removably supportable at the larger end of said first housing;

a second grate supportable in said second housing in a position intermediate to the larger and smaller ends thereof and generally parallel to said ends;

a second rack removably supportable at the larger end of said second housing;

said first and second chambers each being operable as either a preignition chamber or a firebox chamber depending upon the operative arrangement of said chambers in said first or second disposition.

2. A portable and nestable hibachi type stove according to claim 1 wherein said tapered wall configuration of said first and said second housings are each of conical shape having similar tapers.

3. A portable and nestable hibachi type stove according to claim 1 further comprising handles disposed substantially opposite each other on said tapered wall of said first and said second housings respectively.

4. A portable and nestable hibachi type stove according to claim 2 wherein said first and second grates are removable.

5. A portable and nestable hibachi type stove according to claim 1 further comprising a cover plate for the larger end of at least said first housing.

6. A portable and nestable hibachi type stove according to claim 1 wherein said tapered wall configuration of said first and said second housings are each of a pyramidal shaped having similar tapers.

7. A portable and nestable hibachi type stove according to claim 1 wherein said means for supporting said housings one atop the other comprises folded lip members on the smaller open ends of said first and said second housings, said folded lip members being of similar size and configuration for mating.

8. A portable and nestable hibachi type stove according to claim 7 wherein each of said folded lip members of said first and said second housings has at least one draft opening disposed therethrough.

9. A portable and nestable hibachi type stove according to claim 1 wherein each of said first and second housings includes at least one draft opening in the wall of said housing near the smaller end thereof.