Field of the Invention
The embodiments of the invention relate to firepits, and more particularly, to a firepit adapted for production of aesthetically pleasing flame production. Although embodiments of the invention are suitable for a wide scope of applications, it is particularly suitable for aesthetic enlargement of a flame for table top fire pits.
Discussion of the Related Art
The related art includes generally firepits having generally a containment vessel such as a bowl or pit and an open top. Fuel such as wood or other combustible material can be added to the containment vessel and burned. The related art firepit can generally contain the combustible material and is ideal to prevent undesired spreading of fire and to contain ash and debris created by fire. The related art includes generally grates or grills for grilling as well as flat tops for converting firepits for use as a table or work surface when not in use.
Firepits of the related art, however, are not commonly optimized for air flow. Some firepits of the related art may include fans to increase airflow. But, fans generally require electrical power and are prone to failure in from heat created by the firepit. Accordingly, related art fire pits may not reach their full potential in terms of completely combusting fuel, and correspondingly emitting heat and flame.
Accordingly, embodiments of the invention are directed to a firepit topper that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
An object of embodiments of the invention is to provide a firepit that amplifies the flame for aesthetic purposes;
Another object of embodiments of the invention is to provide a firepit that provides more efficient fuel combustion;
Yet another object of embodiments of the invention is to provide a firepit that emits more heat than similarly sized firepits;
Still another object of embodiments of the invention is to provide a firepit having protection of the flame to reduce prospective injury.
Additional features and advantages of embodiments of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of embodiments of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the embodiments of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of embodiments of the invention, as embodied and broadly described, a firepit topper includes a plate having a plate having a top side and a bottom side, a central opening of the plate, a first channel partially surrounding the central opening, a second channel partially surrounding the central opening, and an end of the first channel that is offset with respect to an end of the second channel.
In another aspect, firepit topper includes a plate, a central opening of the plate, a first, second, third, and fourth support members collectively surrounding the central opening, a first channel formed between the first and second support members, a second channel formed between the third and fourth support members, a first end of the first channel, and a first end of the second channel disposed farther from the central opening than the first end of the first channel.
In yet another aspect, a firepit topper includes a plate, a central opening of the plate, a first channel of the plate, a second channel of the plate, a first end of the first channel; a first end of the second channel disposed farther from the central opening than the first end of the first channel, a first safety guard partially disposed in the first channel and extending upwardly from the plate, a second safety guard partially disposed in the second channel and extending upwardly from the plate; and an airgap between a vertical edge of the first safety guard and a vertical edge of the second safety guard.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of embodiments of the invention as claimed.
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of embodiments of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of embodiments of the invention.
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the thicknesses of layers and regions are exaggerated for clarity. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements.
Central recess 110 of base 100 can be sized in approximate proportions to receive optional removable cup 120. Fuel can be loaded directly into central recess 110 or into optional removable cup 120. Accordingly, either of central recess 110 or into optional removable cup 120 can be a fuel reservoir. Embodiments of the invention having removable cup 120 can be facilitate easy loading of fuel and easy cleaning of the firepit.
Firepit topper 200 can be disposed on top of base 100. Flange 240 can extend downwards from plate 210. Flange 240 can be an annular ring extending downwards from an outer periphery of plate 210 and sized in approximate dimensions to be slidably received over base 100.
Although embodiments of the invention illustrate the flange 240 as a continuous cylinder extending downwards from the outer periphery of plate 210, the flange 240 is not limited to the embodiment shown and alternative embodiments of the flange are contemplated and within the scope of the invention. By way of non-limiting example, a flange can alternatively be disposed on an inner periphery of plate 210 around central hole 211 and could correspondingly be received in central recess 110. In another example, a flange can be formed from multiple tabs or protrusions extending downwards from plate 210 in varying positions to engage corresponding features of base 100 and generally disposed to position plate 210 with respect to base 100 and limit lateral sliding.
Channels 220 and 230 of plate 210 can surround central hole 211. Channels 220 and 230 can generally form a discontinuous circular channel. Channels 220 and 230 can be offset such that ends of channels 220 and 230 do not align. An end of channel 220 can be slightly closer to the central hole 211 than a corresponding end of channel 230. An opposite end of channel 220 can be slightly farther from central hole 211 than a corresponding end of channel 230. Although embodiments of the invention have been illustrated as having two channels, three, four, or more channels having offset or discontinuous ends are contemplated and within the scope of the invention. Although embodiments of the invention illustrate channels 220 and 230 as being formed between upstanding sidewalls on a surface of the plate 210, channels could alternatively be formed as recesses or cutouts in the surface of plate 210. Alternatively, channels could also be formed by a series of upstanding positioning members that collectively define one or more channels. Alternatively, a channel can be formed by a single upstanding sidewall or upstanding support member for supporting a safety guard on a single side and the safety guard can be attached to such upstanding sidewall or support member. Although the upstanding sidewalls and support members have been shown and described generally as features disposed on the top surface of plate 210, upstanding sidewalls or support members can be part of or coextensive with flange 240 or sidewalls of a body of the firepit. Although channels 220 and 230 are illustrated as curved, other shapes of channels, including straight channels are contemplated and within the scope of the invention. By way of non-limiting example, four straight channels can be formed where each channel has an end slightly close to the central hole than an adjacent panel. Accordingly, all of the foregoing can be considered channels and within the scope of the invention.
Safety guards 310 and 320 can be sized in approximate proportions to be received in channels 220 and 230, respectively. Safety guards 310 and 320 can have a hole on a bottom edge (e.g. holes 325) that can receive a screw to attach the safety guard to topper 200. When safety guards 310 and 320 are installed in channels 220 and 230, respectively, an airgap 331 can form between edges 311 and 321 and an airgap 332 can form between edges 312 and 322.
When a fire is lit in the base 100, warm air from the fire can rise through safety guards 310 and 320. As the warm air rises, negative pressure can be created near the base of the fire. Negative pressure can cause air to be sucked in through airgaps 331 and 332 further feeding the fire. The positioning of airgaps 331 and 332 can cause fresh air to be directed to inner surfaces of safety guards 310 and 320 and create a swirling, rising, vortex of air between safety guards 310 and 320. The air current can cause the fire to be drawn upwards and appear bigger and more aesthetically pleasing. The air current can cause the fire to have additional oxygen and burn the fuel faster. The air current can cause the fire to have additional oxygen and facilitate more complete combustion of fuel. The air current can cause the fire to appear to be swirling like a tornado.
Safety guards 310 and 320 are preferably formed from heat treated and break resistant glass. Topper 200 is preferably formed from metal. Base 100 is preferably formed from masonry, turned stone, or metal. Removable cup 120 is preferably formed from metal.
Sidewalls 250, 260, 270, and 280 can each have one or more tabs (e.g. tab 285) to facilitate connection to plate 210 via slots (e.g. slot 215.) In the embodiment illustrated in
Holes 253 and 263 of sidewalls 250 and 260, respectively, can be aligned and generally configured in relative proportions to receive a correspondingly sized screw. Safety guard 310 of
Generally, channels 220 and 230 can be offset as shown in
When referring to the relative position of the ends of sidewalls and channels with respect to one another, the term “inside” can mean “closer to the central hole.” End 251 of sidewall 250 can be inside of end 261 of sidewall 260. End 261 of sidewall 260 can be inside of end 271 of sidewall 270. End 271 of sidewall 270 can be inside end 281 of sidewall 280. End 221 of channel 220 can be inside of end 231 of sidewall 230. End 272 of sidewall 270 can be inside of end 282 of sidewall 280. End 282 of sidewall 280 can be inside of end 252 of sidewall 250. End 252 of sidewall 250 can be inside end 262 of sidewall 260. End 232 of channel 230 can be inside of end 222 of sidewall 220.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the firepit topper without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that embodiments of the invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
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Table Torches; available at https://www.halofiretorch.com/collections/table-torches. Last Accessed Dec. 1, 2022. |
Machine Translation of WO2015124051 of Haung. |