This application relates generally to a gas stove having a collapsible combustion chamber. The application relates more particularly to a lightweight portable gas cooking stove having nested tapered rings that are configured to extend to form a combustion chamber when suspended from the cooking surface and a gas attachment configured to nest within the nested tapered rings when collapsed.
People participate in outdoor recreational activities such as camping. Campers often build fires for warmth and for cooking. A cooking stove can be used to direct and concentrate flames and heat onto cooking containers such as pots, pans, or plates. Cooking stoves with open flames are susceptible to wind and other elements than can prevent the flames from efficiently or evenly heating cooking containers placed over the flames. Cooking stoves that use prepackaged fuel, such as propane or liquid fuel require the user to carry a limited supply of fuel in order for the stove to be used. Once the supply of fuel is exhausted, the stove may be no longer usable.
In accordance with an example embodiment of the subject application, a collapsible stove includes a combustion chamber, a top plate disposed over the combustion chamber, a gas head including multiple gas apertures, and a bottom plate. The combustion chamber includes a number of tapered annular rings that are configured to telescope into the combustion chamber when the stove is opened into the open configuration. The tapered annular rings are configured to collapse into a nested configuration when the stove is closed into the closed configuration. The top plate includes an aperture that opens to the combustion chamber and includes stand offs to support a cooking container such as a pot, pan, or plate over the aperture to the combustion chamber. One of the tapered annular rings, for example the bottommost ring, can include a number of ventilation holes. The bottom plates is secured to the bottommost ring and is configured to selectively receive the gas head through a gas fitting hole and dispose the gas head within the combustion chamber. The combustion chamber, when opened, is substantially frustoconical which, during combustion, enables the Venturi effect to increase air flow to combustible materials burned in the combustion chamber, such as gas provided through the gas head. A gas port cover can be moved over the gas fitting hole when the gas head is removed from the bottom plate. The combustion chamber can be secured to, and hang from or be suspended from, the top plate. The combustion chamber can be suspended such that there is an air gap between the bottom plate and the surface upon which the stove is placed, which provides clearance for the gas head and associated hoses. The combustion chamber can be permanently or removably secured to the top plate. A plurality of rotatable leg supports and suspend the stove and combustion chamber in an elevated position when the stove and the legs are opened. When collapsed, one or both of the legs can secure the tapered annular rings in the nested configuration, for example by abutting a portion of a leg against the bottom plate. One or both rotatable legs can secure the stove in the collapsed configuration, for example by pressing on the other leg or frame. The top cover can include an opening that has a wider diameter than the combustion chamber but a smaller diameter than the top plate, such that the top plate can rest upon a least a portion of the top cover and the combustion chamber can be suspended in the opening. The stove can include a frame to which the top plate is secured, with the top cover sandwiched between the frame and top plate. One or more connectors or pegs or a combination thereof can be configured to pass into holes in the other members and allow the top plate to be secured to the frame. The pegs can be fixed to one of the members. The rotatable legs can be coupled to the frame in such a way as to allow at least partial rotation. When collapsed the nested tapered annular rings collapse to have a height that is approximately the height of the frame and top plate, so as to facilitate storage and carrying. Similarly, the legs can collapse into the frame so that the entire stove is approximately the height between the bottom of the frame and the top of the top plate.
In accordance with an example embodiment of the subject application, a collapsible stove includes a frustoconical combustion chamber having a number of tapered annular rings that can telescope and expand into the fully open configuration from a nested configuration. A bottom plate is secured to the bottommost tapered annular ring and is configured to selectively receive a gas head and position the gas head in the combustion chamber for burning combustible gas. When the rings are in the nested configuration, the combined height of the nested rings is approximately the height of a single ring. The combustion chamber has a wider diameter at the bottom than the top. The shape of the combustion chamber can facilitate the flow of air into the combustion chamber via the Venturi effect. The stove can include two or more rotatable legs. When rotated closed, one or more of the legs can secure the tapered annular rings in the collapsed nested configuration. When rotated opened, the legs can suspend the combustion chamber, for example over the ground. A top plate can hold cookware above the combustion chamber and an associated top cover can hold the top plate and suspend the combustion chamber above the ground. The combustion chamber can be secured to the top plate either removably or permanently.
In accordance with an example embodiment of the subject application, a method includes expanding a plurality of nested tapered rings into a suspended frustoconical combustion chamber, and receiving a gas head into the combustion chamber through a gas fitting hole in a bottom plate secured to the bottommost nested tapered ring. The method can include releasing combustible gas into the combustion chamber through the gas head, igniting the released gas, and continuing to combust the gas in the combustion chamber to generate heat through a hole in a top plate disposed over the combustion chamber. Prior to igniting the combustible gas, the bottom plate can be raised to position the gas head in proximity of the hole in the top plate of the stove. The combustible gas can be ignited through the hole in the top plate, and the bottom plate can then be lowered for combusting the gas in the combustion chamber.
Various embodiments will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings wherein:
The systems and methods disclosed herein are described in detail by way of examples and with reference to the figures. It will be appreciated that modifications to disclosed and described examples, arrangements, configurations, components, elements, apparatuses, devices methods, systems, etc. can suitably be made and may be desired for a specific application. In this disclosure, any identification of specific techniques, arrangements, etc. are either related to a specific example presented or are merely a general description of such a technique, arrangement, etc. Identifications of specific details or examples are not intended to be, and should not be, construed as mandatory or limiting unless specifically designated as such.
Referring to
The legs 102, 104 can attach to a frame 106 via a rotatable pivot point, allowing the legs 102, 104 to be opened in order to suspend the frame 106, surface 108, top plate 110, and combustion chamber 114 above the ground. In a configuration, each of the legs 102, 104 can rotate more than ninety degrees to provide stable support of the frame 106. In a configuration, the legs 102, 104 can be configured to stop rotating once part of the legs 102, 104 abuts part of the frame 106. In another configuration, the legs 102, 104 and frame 106 can be configured to increase friction between members as the legs 102, 104 are rotated into the open position. In another configuration, detents such as protrusions or indents in the frame 106 and/or legs 102, 104 can limit rotation or secure the legs 102, 104 in the open position as would be understood in the art. The legs 102, 104 can be secured similarly in the closed position. In a configuration, clevis pins or other types of removable connectors can be used to secure the legs 102, 104 to the frame 106, while facilitating easy removal for cleaning or replacement. In other embodiments, fixed legs, telescoping legs, or multi-part legs can be used as would be understood in the art.
Referring also to
In different embodiments, the top cover 108, top plate 110, and frame 106 can be individual pieces or can be combined into one or more pieces as would be understood in the art. In the embodiment presented in the associated figures, the top cover 108, top plate 110, and frame 106 are individual pieces. This embodiment advantageously takes advantage of different materials to reduce cost, reduce weight, add strength, improve durability, and improve temperature control. For example, the top cover 108, frame 106, and legs 102, 104 can be constructed of stamped aluminum, and can include ridges and other structural features, for example as illustrated in
The top plate 110 can include a plurality of stand offs 112. The stand offs 112 can elevate a pot, pan, or plate that is placed on the stand offs 112. The stand offs 112 allow an air gap between top plate 110 and the pot, pan, or plate for exhaust gasses to escape from the combustion chamber 114. In a configuration, the stand offs 112 can be integrated into the top plate 110, for example as a single cast part. In another configuration, the stand offs 112 can be removable or configured to fold down or rotate into the combustion chamber 114 to further reduce space or to allow a pot or pan to be placed over the combustion chamber 114 to help extinguish any burning material therein.
The combustion chamber 114 can be secured to the top plate 110, for example using a bayonet mount, a screw thread, individual screws, or permanent affixation such as welding. The combustion chamber 114 is comprised of a plurality of concentric rings 116, for example tapered annular or cylindrical rings as shown. The rings 116 are configured such that a lower portion of each ring 116 has a larger diameter than an upper portion of an adjacent ring 116. In this way, when the rings 116 are allowed to expand, for example by the action of gravity, each ring 116 will hold the ring 116 below in place to form a substantially sealed combustion chamber 114 that has an approximately frustoconical shape. The frustoconical shape of the combustion chamber 114 not only concentrates heat at the top plate 110, but also advantageously takes advantage of the Venturi effect to draw ample air into the combustion chamber 114 to increase combustion and heat production. One or more rings 116 can include a plurality of ventilation holes 120 for drawing air into the combustion chamber 114. The ventilation holes 120 can be configured to allow air to enter the combustion chamber 114, or allow ash to be removed, while keeping burning material and hot coals safely inside of the combustion chamber 114. The ventilation holes 120 can be approximately triangular in shape as illustrated. A bottom plate 122 can be secured to the lowest ring 116 to retain burning material, for example using screws, threads, or other means of securing as described above. The bottom plate 118 also can include ventilation holes 118. The bottom plate 122 can have a larger diameter than the diameter of any ring 116 and advantageously assist in securing the rings 116 when the combustion chamber 114′ is in the collapsed configuration.
The combustion chamber 114′ can be collapsed into a collapsed configuration as shown in
Advantageously, the tapered cylindrical sections or rings 116 of the combustion chamber 114′ can be nested into a compact configuration for ease of storage and carrying of the collapsible stove 100. A user can collapse the sections into the compact configuration by hand or by turning the stove upside down and allowing the rings 116 to collapse by the action of gravity. This might be performed, for example, when emptying the combustion chamber of ash or leftover unburned fuel prior to storage. Once the combustion chamber 114′ is collapsed, the user can close the legs of the collapsible stove 100 to secure the collapsed rings 116 in place for storage and carrying. In an embodiment, the tapered cylindrical sections or rings 116 of the combustion chamber 114 can include structures for locking the rings in the open configuration. For example, each ring can include screw threads or bayonet mounts for locking each ring with an adjacent ring.
In the bottom view of
Referring now to
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The gas collapsible stove 700 can disassembled for any suitable reason, for example for cleaning, for long term storage, or to decrease the profile of the gas collapsible stove 700 for carrying. Advantageously, if wood is available for combustion, the user may desire to combust wood in the gas collapsible stove 700 rather than utilizing their limited supply of gas from the gas canister 724. Similarly if the user has exhausted the gas canister 724, the user can remove the gas hardware 702 and use other available fuels, such as wood, in the gas collapsible stove 700.
Referring now also to
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the spirit and scope of the inventions.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/798,279 filed Jan. 29, 2019 and titled “Gas Portable Cooking Stove”, which is herein incorporated by reference. This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/433,204 filed Feb. 15, 2017 and titled “Portable Cooking Stove”, which is herein incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62798279 | Jan 2019 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15433204 | Feb 2017 | US |
Child | 16775935 | US |