Lid for Fire Pit

Abstract

A lid for a fire pit includes a latch that connects the lid to the body of the fire pit. In one configuration, the lid is latched under an overhanging upper wall of the fire pit. The latch maintains the position of the lid when the fire pit is upright, placed or carried on its side, or turned upside down.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Technical Field

The disclosure relates to outdoor fire pits and, more particularly, to a lid used to close a fire pit during the storage and transport of the fire pit. Specifically, the disclosure relates to a lid that has a latch assembly that allows a user to secure the lid to the fire pit so that it will not fall off when the fire pit is moved and stored.

2. Background Information

A portable fire pit is configured to be taken to and used in different locations. One such fire pit has a handle at its side so that it is carried like a briefcase. When tipped on its side for carrying, left over ash can fall out of the fire pit. Ash can also fall out of the fire pit if it is placed on its side in a vehicle. Even when placed on its legs or upright, it is undesirable for other items in a storage space (such as in the back of a vehicle) to fall into the interior of the fire pit.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure provides a lid of a fire pit wherein the lid is latched to the fire pit. In the exemplary configuration, the lid is latched under the upper wall or upper flange of the fire pit. In other configurations, the lid is latched to the body of the fire pit. The latching maintains the position of the lid when the fire pit is upright, placed or carried on its side, or turned upside down.

In the exemplary configuration, the disclosure provides a fire pit lid with two latch assemblies that secure the lid to the fire pit. Each latch assembly can be changed between latched and unlatched conditions by manipulating a handle accessible from the outside of the lid. Each latch assembly has a biased latch that is positioned under an overhanging portion of the fire pit when the latch assembly is in the latched condition to secure the lid to the fire pit.

In another exemplary configuration, the disclosure provides a fire pit lid that includes a single manipulatable latch assembly and another passive latch that cooperate together to secure the lid to the fire pit.

In the exemplary configuration, the lid has an outer diameter that is about equal to the outer diameter of an upper flange of the fire pit so that there is a ring-shaped band of contact between most of the upper surface of the upper flange and the inner surface of the lid to limit the amount of ash, dust, and debris that can fall out of the fire pit when the lid is latched in place.

The individual features described herein may be combined in different combinations than specifically described below to form different configurations of the device of the disclosure. The preceding non-limiting aspects of the disclosure, as well as others, are more particularly described below. A more complete understanding of the devices, assemblies, and methods can be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, which are not intended to indicate relative size and dimensions of the assemblies. In those drawings and the description below, like numeric designations refer to components of like function. Specific terms used in that description are intended to refer only to the particular structure of the embodiments selected for illustration in the drawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the outer surface of the lid and the latch handles.

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1 showing the latches of the latch assemblies.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the lid showing the resilient spiral latches.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lid on a fire pit.

FIG. 5 is a section view showing a portion of the lid on the fire pit.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 taken of the latch assembly with the lid on the fire pit and the latch assembly in the unlatched condition.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the latch assembly rotated to the latched condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

This description of exemplary embodiments is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematic form in the interest of clarity and conciseness. In the description, relative terms such as “horizontal,” “vertical,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing figure under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and normally are not intended to require a particular orientation. Terms including “inwardly” versus “outwardly,” “longitudinal” versus “lateral” and the like are to be interpreted relative to one another or relative to an axis of elongation, or an axis or center of rotation, as appropriate. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as “joined,” “connected,” and “interconnected,” refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise.

A first exemplary configuration of a fire pit lid is indicated generally by the number 2 in the accompanying drawings. Lid 2 includes a lid body 4 having an outer surface 6 and an inner surface 8. Lid body 4 also includes an outer rim 9 (See FIG. 5) that projects downward from the outer perimeter edge of main disc-shaped portion of lid body 4. Lid 2 also includes at least a first latch assembly 10 that can be manipulated between latched and unlatched conditions with respect to a portion of a fire pit 12. In the latched condition, latch assembly 10 secures lid 2 to fire pit 12. In the unlatched condition, lid 2 can be removed from fire pit 12. When only a single latch assembly 10 is used, at least one passive locking finger is provided to engage fire pit 12 at a location spaced from latch assembly 10. When positioning lid 2 with only a single latch assembly 10, the passive locking finger is first engaged with the fire pit (such as being slid under the fire pit's upper overhang structure 18) and then latch assembly 10 is manipulated to latch lid 2 to fire pit 12. In the exemplary configuration depicted in the drawings, lid 2 includes two latch assemblies 10 spaced apart on opposite sides of lid 4. In other embodiments, lid 2 includes additional latch assemblies 10. Lid 2 can be made from stainless steel. Lid 2 is intended to be used after any fire in the fire pit is fully extinguished and cooled.

The exemplary configuration of latch assembly 10 cooperates with a portion of an upper wall that overhangs the fire box of fire pit 12 to define an inwardly projecting flange 18. In this configuration, flange 18 is a continuous ring but in other configurations, flange 18 can be a discrete element or a plurality of spaced elements. When moved to the latched condition, latch assembly 10 engages the lower surface of flange 18 to secure lid 2 to fire pit 12. In another configuration, latch assembly 10 is configured to engage one or more air outlets (shown in FIG. 5) in the upper sidewall of fire pit 12. In a further configuration, latch assembly 10 is configured to engage the angled conical wall that extends between flange 18 and the fire pit sidewall.

Each latch assembly 10 includes a handle 20 that is located above outer surface 6. Handle 20 can pivot between a storage position where it lays down against outer surface 6 and an upright position that is shown in the drawings. In the upright position, handle 20 provides a grip for a user's hand to rotate latch assembly 10 between the latched and unlatched conditions.

Handle 20 is connected to a shaft 22 that passes through lid body 4. A resilient latch 24 is carried by shaft 22 under lid body 4. Latch 24 is sized to have a latching portion 26 that projects far enough from shaft 22 to be rotated under flange 18 when latch assembly 10 is changed from the unlatched condition to the latched condition. Latch 24 can have a variety of shapes. Latch 24 can be made from a resilient material and be bent up toward inner surface 8 to a position where it is spaced from inner surface 8 that is less than the thickness of flange 18 so that latch 24 is bent down away from inner surface 8 by flange 18 when latch 24 is moved to the latched condition. Latch 24 then resiliently engages flange 18 and provides a retaining force.

In the exemplary configuration, a resilient, spiral-shaped latch 24 is carried by shaft 22 under inner surface 8 of lid body 4. Latch 24 is carried by shaft 22 such that latch 24 rotates with shaft 24 when shaft 24 is rotated by a turning handle 20. Latch 24 is formed by a length of resilient metal such as spring steel with a circular cross section. This length of metal is bent into the resilient spiral that acts as latch 24. The lower end of latch 24 passes through shaft 22 and the upper end of latch is secured next to or around shaft 22 under a support. The support has a first arm that extends down from lid body 4 and a second arm that defines an opening that receives shaft 22 to provide support for shaft 22 (See FIG. 5).

When viewed from below as in FIG. 3, latch 24 is arranged to project away from shaft 24 mainly to one side while being close to shaft 24 on the other side. The portion of latch 24 that projects away from shaft 24 in FIG. 3 is a latching portion 26 and the portion of latch 24 that is close to shaft 24 is a flat portion 28. When flat portion 28 is rotated to place shaft 22 the outer edge of lid body 4 and latching portion 26 (see FIG. 6), latch assembly 10 is in the unlatched condition and lid 2 can be placed onto or lifted from fire pit 12. When projecting portion 26 is rotated to be between shaft 22 and the outer edge of lid body 4 (see FIG. 7), latch assembly 10 is in the latched condition.

Latch assembly 10 is arranged with the lower portion of latch 24 being the initial portion of latch 24 to be rotated under flange 18. As handle 20 rotates shaft 24 further, the middle portion of latch 24 is moved under flange 18 and the distance between latch 24 and inner surface 8 is reduced to a distance equal to the thickness of overhang 18. Further rotation of handle 20 at this point resiliently deforms latch 24 and a retaining force is provided by latch against overhang 18. Shaft 22 and latch 24 can be rotated another quarter turn clockwise from the position depicted in FIG. 7 to further tighten the connection between lid 2 and fire pit 12 as needed.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the above description and attached illustrations are an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described. Throughout the description and claims of this specification the words “comprise” and “include” as well as variations of those words, such as “comprises,” “includes,” “comprising,” and “including” are not intended to exclude additives, components, integers, or steps.

Claims

1. A fire pit comprising: a fire pit body having a fire box where fuel is burned when the fire pit is in use;a lid selectively connectable to the fire pit body to cover the fire box;the lid including a latch assembly movable between unlatched and latch conditions; andwhen the lid is in position on the fire pit body, the latch assembly engaging the fire pit body when the latch assembly is in the latched condition to connect the lid to the fire pit body.

2. The fire pit of claim 1, wherein the lid includes two latch assemblies.

3. The fire pit of claim 1, wherein the fire pit body includes a sidewall that defines an air opening; the latch engaging the air opening when the latch assembly is in the latched condition.

4. The fire pit of claim 1, wherein the fire pit body includes an upper wall structure that has a portion that overhangs the fire box; the latch assembly engaging the upper wall structure when the latch assembly is in the latched condition.

5. The fire pit of claim 4, wherein the lid has a downwardly projecting rim that is positioned outwardly of the upper wall structure when the lid is connected to the fire pit body.

6. The fire pit of claim 1, wherein the lid has an outer surface and an inner surface; the inner surface facing the fire box when the lid is connected to the fire pit body; the latch assembly having a handle located above the outer surface of the lid and the latch assembly having a latch located below the inner surface of the lid.

7. The fire pit of claim 6, wherein the handle pivots between storage and upright positions.

8. The fire pit of claim 6, wherein the latch is spiral-shaped and has a projecting latching portion.

9. The fire pit off claim 6, wherein the latch assembly includes a shaft having an upper portion above the outer surface of the lid and a lower portion below the inner surface of the lid; the latch having a lower end connected to a lower end of the lower portion of the shaft; the latch having an upper end connected to a portion of the lower portion of the shaft located between the inner surface of the lid and the lower end of the lower portion of the shaft.

10. The fire pit of claim 9, further comprising a support connected to the lower portion of the shaft between the lower end of the latch and the upper end of the latch.

11. The fire pit of claim 6, wherein the latch is resilient.

12. A lid for a fire pit, the lid comprising: a lid body having an outer surface, an inner surface, and an outer perimeter edge;first and second latch assemblies; each latch assembly including a handle located above the outer surface of the lid body and a movable latch located under the inner surface; andeach latch movable between unlatched and latched conditions.

13. The lid of claim 12, further comprising a rim projecting down from the outer perimeter edge.

14. The lid of claim 12, wherein the first and second latch assemblies are spaced apart on opposite sides of the lid body.

15. The lid of claim 12, wherein the handle pivots between storage and upright positions; the handle laying down adjacent the outer surface of the lid body when the handle is in the storage position.

16. The lid of claim 12, wherein each latch is spiral-shaped and has a projecting latching portion.

17. The fire pit off claim 16, wherein each latch assembly includes a shaft having an upper portion above the outer surface of the lid and a lower portion below the inner surface of the lid; each latch having a lower end connected to a lower end of the lower portion of the shaft; the latch having an upper end connected to a portion of the lower portion of the shaft located between the inner surface of the lid and the lower end of the lower portion of the shaft.

18. The fire pit of claim 17, further comprising a support connected to the lower portion of the shaft between the lower end of the latch and the upper end of the latch.

19. The fire pit of claim 18, wherein the latch is resilient.