Multi-purpose collapsible portable stove

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6595198
  • Patent Number
    6,595,198
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, July 10, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, July 22, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
A collapsible portable stove may include a chassis, side tables, a shelf assembly, leg assemblies, a fuel delivery system, a burner system, a windscreen assembly, and a hoist assembly. The side tables may slide outward to reveal the burner system and provide workspace. The shelf assembly may attach to an underside of the chassis for storage, to a topside of the chassis between the outward-slid side tables for table space, or beneath the chassis between the leg assemblies for shelf space. The leg assemblies may fold for storage and unfold to raise the stove to a low- or high-profile. In a collapsed position, the stove and its self-contained components resemble a rectangular suitcase. The stove may be expanded from the collapsed position to several possible configurations, optionally having high- or low-profiles, exposed and/or covered burners, side tables, a hoist assembly, and a middle shelf or a middle table.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to portable stoves, and more specifically to a multi-purpose collapsible portable stove having, for example, a hoist assembly from which to raise and lower food for cooking, a burner-in-burner assembly, and a table configuration.




BACKGROUND INFORMATION




Portable stoves are popular cooking appliances, especially for use while camping or picnicking. Portable stoves commonly are powered by combustible gases, such as propane gas. A typical portable stove includes a stove frame, one or more burner assemblies arranged in the frame, and a gas supply coupled to the burner assembly via a control valve. Smaller versions convenient for backpacking may be not much larger than the gas canister itself, while larger versions designed for group camping may be the size of a large briefcase. The larger portable stoves typically are designed to rest on a picnic table and open and close in a manner similar to that of a hard-sided suitcase. As with a suitcase, there may be a handle in the middle of the long, narrow front panel for carrying the portable stove in the closed position.




While these larger, suitcase-style portable stoves work well for heating small to medium-sized pans and skillets, they are of limited use. Generally, they require a separate table on which to rest, they have a limited range of heating (either a low range or a high range), they do not provide shelf space on which to rest items, and they often cannot accommodate cooking large items, such as a turkey. It would be advantageous to have a portable stove which has collapsible legs permitting it to stand alone. It would also be advantageous to be able to configure the portable stove as either a stove or as a table, with the option of a self-contained shelf, depending on the needs of the user. The user may also desire to cook larger dishes, such as a turkey, so it would be useful to have a stable construction supporting a hoist assembly from which to hang larger items for cooking, such as by deep-frying. While it would be preferable that the stove be powerful enough to heat large items, it nonetheless would also be desirable that the stove have a low minimum power output for heating small pans without overheating them.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention provides a collapsible portable stove including a chassis, side tables, a shelf assembly, leg assemblies, a fuel delivery system, a burner system, a windscreen assembly, and a hoist assembly. A fuel supply, such as a propane gas canister, attaches to the fuel delivery system to supply gas for combustion. In a collapsed position, the stove and its components fold together to resemble a rectangular suitcase, the components being self-contained therein. The stove may be expanded from the collapsed position to several configurations, including high- and low-profile exposed-burner stove configurations having side tables, an optional hoist assembly and an optional middle shelf, and high- and low-profile covered-burner table configurations, optionally having side tables and a middle shelf, and high- and low-profile stove/table combination configurations having a side table, an optional hoist assembly and an optional middle shelf











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

shows a perspective view of a collapsible portable stove according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in an exemplary high-profile exposed-burner stove configuration.





FIG. 2

shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary side table assembly attached to a frame.





FIG. 3A

depicts a bottom perspective view of an arm of a shelf assembly in an outward position, whereas

FIG. 3B

depicts the arm in an inward position.





FIG. 4

depicts a perspective view of the stove of

FIG. 1

upside-down in an exemplary collapsed configuration.





FIG. 5

shows a perspective view of the stove of

FIG. 4

without the shelf assembly covering the underside.





FIG. 6

depicts a perspective view of the stove of

FIG. 1

in an exemplary high-profile covered-burner table configuration with the shelves extended.





FIG. 7

shows a perspective view of the stove of

FIG. 1

in an exemplary high-profile stove/table combination configuration with a right shelf removed and a left shelf retracted.





FIG. 8

is a perspective view of the stove of

FIG. 1

in an exemplary low-profile exposed-burner stove configuration and fitted with a hoist assembly.





FIG. 9A

shows a perspective view of an exemplary leg assembly having an exemplary lower leg partially deployed from an exemplary upper leg;

FIG. 9B

shows a perspective view of the lower leg folded into the upper leg;

FIG. 9C

shows a sectional back elevational view of the leg assembly fully deployed; and

FIG. 9D

shows a sectional side elevational view of the leg assembly fully deployed.





FIG. 10A

is a cross-sectional view of the control panel near a valve assembly and a knob, whereas

FIG. 10B

is a top plan view of an exemplary stove in an exemplary high-profile exposed-burner stove configuration.





FIGS. 11A and 11B

are a top plan view and a cross-sectional side elevational view, respectively, of an exemplary low power sub-burner nested within an exemplary high power sub-burner.





FIG. 12A

is a sectional perspective view of an exemplary pole holder in which an exemplary hoist assembly is inserted, while

FIG. 12B

is a sectional side elevational view of an exemplary winch head.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION




High-Profile Exposed-Burner Stove Configuration A




Referring to the figures,

FIG. 1

shows a perspective view of a collapsible portable stove


100


according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in an exemplary high-profile exposed-burner stove configuration “A.” As shown in

FIG. 1

, a collapsible portable stove


100


may include a chassis


10


, side table assemblies


20


, a shelf assembly


30


, leg assemblies


40


, a fuel delivery system


50


, a burner system


60


, a windscreen assembly


70


, and a hoist assembly


80


(see FIG.


8


). A fuel supply


90


, such as a propane gas canister


91


, separately may attach to the fuel delivery system


50


to supply gas for combustion. Configuration A is considered to have a high-profile insofar as the leg assemblies


40


are fully extended.

FIG. 1

depicts both the side tables


20


in an extended position, the shelf assembly


30


in an attached shelf position, and the windscreen assembly


70


in an upright position.




The Chassis




The chassis


10


may include a frame


1


(FIG.


5


), heat shields


2




a


and


2




b


(FIG.


10


B), handle assemblies


3




a


(

FIG. 1

) and


3




b


(FIG.


5


), a control panel


4


(FIG.


6


), a back cover


5


(FIG.


4


), and end covers


6


(FIG.


4


). Two side handle assemblies


3




a


may be used to carry the stove


100


like a tray, whereas front handle assembly


3




b


may be used to carry the stove


100


like a suitcase. The frame


1


may provide structural support for all of the components of the stove


100


and cooking vessels. The heat shields


2




a


and


2




b


may attach to the frame


1


with, for example, screws (or other such attachment means) and provide thermal protection to valve assemblies


51


(

FIG. 10B

) and to a regulator hose assembly


52


(

FIG. 10A

) of the fuel delivery system


50


. Heat shield


2




a


may protect the fuel delivery system


50


in general, while heat shield


2




b


may protect mainly the control panel


4


. The control panel


4


, back cover


5


, and end covers


6


may attach to the frame


1


with, for example, screws and define an external appearance of the stove


100


.




It is understood that the use of all specific attachment means mentioned herein, such as screws to attach components, is exemplary of an appropriate attachment means and does not limit the present invention to using the specific attachment means to accomplish the intended purpose, e.g., using screws to attach components. Other acceptable attachment means will be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, rivets, nails, nuts and bolts, snap-lock spikes, welding, crimping, and adhesives may be appropriate attachment means, depending on the situation and the intended purpose.




The Side Tables Assemblies




The side table assemblies


20


may include side tables


21


and slides


22


(FIG.


2


).

FIG. 2

shows a partial cross-section of an exemplary side table assembly


20


attached to the frame


1


. The slide


22


may be attached to the frame


1


using a shoulder screw


22




a


and possibly having a washer


22




b


, such as a brass washer, between the slide


22


and the frame


1


. In contrast to prior art shelves that unfold open or are separate from the stove and require secondary support means, the side tables


20


slide open to the extended position, using the slides


22


for support. Although the figures show exemplary embodiments of the stove


100


as having two side table assemblies


20


to cover two burner systems


60


, the stove


100


may be constructed with only one side table assembly


20


. As shown in

FIG. 2

, the side tables


21


may attach to the slides


22


with screws


21




a


, for example, in such a way as to allow the side tables


21


to slide along the frame


1


over a topside


23


(

FIG. 7

) of the frame


1


, thereby covering the burner systems


60


of the stove


100


.




The Shelf Assembly




Referring to FIG.


3


A and

FIG. 3B

, the shelf assembly


30


may include a middle shelf


31


, arms


32


, and arm brackets


33


. The arms


32


may be attached to the arm brackets


33


with, for example, clevis pins


32




a


and washers, allowing the arms


32


to pivot. The arm brackets


33


may be attached to the middle shelf


31


with, for example, rivets


33




a.



FIG. 3A

depicts the arm


32


of the shelf assembly


30


in an outward position, whereas

FIG. 3B

depicts the arm


32


in an inward position. The arms


32


may have grooves


34




a


and


34




b


so as to lie flat when in either the inward or the outward position. The shelf assembly


30


may be suspended in a substantially horizontal position from pegs


35




a


(

FIG. 9C

) on the leg assemblies


40


using peg holes


35




b


on the arms


32


. In this position, the shelf assembly


30


may be used, for example, to store cooking items. Alternatively, the shelf assembly


30


may be secured to an underside


36


of the frame


1


, in an attached underside position as shown in

FIG. 4

, to cover the underside


36


of the frame


1


, either to stow the shelf assembly


30


while the stove


100


is in a modified configuration A, or to enclose the leg assemblies


40


while the leg assemblies


40


are stowed, such as in FIG.


4


.




Collapsed Stove Configuration B





FIG. 4

depicts a perspective view of the stove


100


upside-down in an exemplary collapsed configuration B. Configuration B depicts the stove


100


and its components folded together to resemble a rectangular suitcase, the components being self-contained therein. The shelf assembly


30


is attached to the chassis


10


in the attached underside position. By comparison,

FIG. 5

also shows a perspective view of the stove


100


in configuration B, but without the shelf assembly


30


covering the underside


36


, thereby exposing the folded leg assemblies


40


stowed within the frame


1


. However,

FIGS. 4 and 5

show the stove


100


with the side tables


20


removed, as explained in relation to FIG.


7


. The stove


100


may be expanded from the collapsed configuration B to several configurations, including configuration A, described above, and configurations C-E, shown in

FIGS. 6-8

and described below.




High-Profile Covered-Burner Table Configuration C




If the side tables


21


are slid to their extended positions, the shelf assembly


30


may be arranged on the topside


23


of the frame


1


between the side tables


21


to cover the burner systems


60


and form a large table, as shown in FIG.


6


.

FIG. 6

depicts a perspective view of the stove


100


in a configuration C. Configuration C is characterized as a high-profile covered-burner table configuration having side tables


20


in the extended position and the shelf assembly


30


attached to the topside


23


. Alternatively, the side table assemblies


20


may be replaced entirely with a second shelf assembly


30


(

FIG. 6

) that may be stowed beneath the chassis


10


while the first shelf assembly


30


is in the attached shelf position.




High-Profile Stove/Table Combination Configuration D





FIG. 7

shows a perspective view of the stove


100


in a configuration D characterized as a high-profile stove/table combination configuration having a side table


21


in a retracted position and the shelf assembly


30


in the attached shelf position. In

FIG. 7

, the left side table


21


covers the left burner system


60


, forming a small table space adjacent the right burner system


60


, which is exposed by the removal of the right side table


21


. Typically, the right side table


21


would be slid to the right in the extended position when the stove


100


is in configuration D, but the side tables


21


may be made to releasably engage the slides


22


to permit the side tables


21


to be removed easily. Removal of the side tables


21


may be advantageous if the stove


100


is to be operated in a confined space not large enough to accommodate the length of the stove


100


with the side tables


21


in the extended position.




Low-Profile Exposed-Burner Stove Configuration E




To further illustrate the versatility of the stove


100


,

FIG. 8

is a perspective view of the stove


100


in an exemplary low-profile exposed-burner stove configuration E having side tables


21


in the extended position, the hoist assembly


80


in an inserted position, and the shelf assembly


30


in the attached shelf position. The stove


100


preferably is placed in the low-profile configuration E for added stability while using the hoist assembly


80


, lessening the possibility that the stove


100


would tip over during use if bumped or if the weight thereon were to become unbalanced. The hoist assembly


80


may provide the user with increased control over and access to larger items, including tall pots, that might otherwise require the use of both hands. Use of the hoist assembly


80


also may permit the user to distance himself from the heat of the stove


100


while adjusting the items while cooking.




The Leg Assemblies




As shown in

FIGS. 9A-9D

, each of the leg assemblies


40


may include an upper leg


41


and a lower leg


42


. Unlike leg assemblies having telescopic-leg mechanisms, the leg assembly


40


may have a folding-leg mechanism. The combination of the four leg assemblies


40


may be characterized generally as an elevation system, and although the figures depict exemplary embodiments of the stove


100


as having four leg assemblies


40


, other exemplary embodiments may include as few as three leg assemblies, arranged triangularly, or more than four leg assemblies


40


for additional support.

FIG. 9A

shows an exemplary lower leg


42


partially deployed from an exemplary upper leg


41


. The upper leg


41


and the lower leg


42


may be shaped, for example, as half-pipes, i.e., having a U-shaped cross-section, or other feasibly sturdy construction. The lower leg


42


may be attached to the upper leg


41


with, for example, a bolt


42




a


and a nut


42




b


, or other appropriate means, so as to permit the lower leg


42


to rotate 180 degrees to fold into the upper leg


42


.




The lower leg


42


may lock into the upper leg


41


when fully deployed, and the locking mechanism may include, for example, a spring


45


, a cam slide slot


46


, a tooth groove


47


and a tooth


48


. To engage the tooth


48


in the tooth groove


47


, the lower leg


42


must be fully deployed and slid on the bolt


42




a


along the cam slide slot


46


away from the spring


45


. However, the spring


45


exerts force on the lower leg


42


towards the upper leg


41


, pulling the lower leg


41


upward along the cam slide


46


and wedging the tooth


48


into the tooth groove


47


, thereby creating a stable engagement. The cam slide slot


46


may slope downwardly into the U-shaped upper leg


41


toward the spring


45


so as to securely wedge the top of the lower leg


42


into the trough of the U-shaped channel on the lower end of the upper leg


41


.





FIG. 9B

shows a perspective view of the lower leg


42


folded into the upper leg


41


. The upper leg


41


may be slightly wider in diameter than the lower leg


42


so as to allow the lower leg


42


to fit inside the upper leg


41


. The spring


45


also may lock the lower leg


42


in place against the upper leg


41


in the folded position by exerting force on the lower leg


42


so as to cause a detent groove


49




a


on the lower leg


42


to engage a detent bar


49




b


on the upper leg


41


. Similarly, the upper leg


41


may be attached to a leg holder


7


on the frame


1


with, for example, a bolt


41




a


and a nut


41




b


(see

FIG. 5

) along a cam slide slot


8


in such a way as to allow the leg assembly


40


to rotate up into the stove


100


for storage. The upper leg


41


may slide along cam slide slot


8


and have a tooth


41




c


(

FIG. 5

) that engages a tooth detent


41




d


to brace the leg assembly


40


. The leg assemblies


40


may be angled outward slightly beyond each corner of the chassis


10


so as to create a pyramidal appearance, adding stability both front to back and side to side.




Moreover, the upper leg


41


may include an angled annular support


43


(

FIG. 9A

) to improve stability of the leg assembly


40


when the stove


100


is standing only on the upper legs


41


.

FIG. 9C

shows a partial back elevational view of the leg assembly fully deployed; and

FIG. 9D

shows a partial side elevational view of the leg assembly fully deployed. The stove


100


may be considered to be in a low-profile configuration when the stove


100


is standing only on the upper legs


41


, such as in FIG.


8


. Likewise, the lower leg


42


may include an angled crescent support


44


capable of folding into the upper leg


41


to better distribute the weight of the stove


100


in a high-profile configuration. Allowing the stove


100


to be used with just the upper legs


41


folded out permits a low-profile, stable configuration, such as shown in

FIG. 8

, suitable for heating large, heavy cooking vessels. By unfolding the lower legs


42


, the cooking level of the stove


100


may be raised to a high-profile, standard working height suitable for general-purpose cooking.




The Fuel Delivery System




Referring to

FIGS. 10A and 10B

, the fuel delivery system


50


may include a regulator hose assembly


51


(not visible because covered by the heat shield


2




b


), valve assembly


52


, knobs


53


, and gas tip assemblies


54


.

FIG. 10A

is a cross-sectional view of the control panel


4


near a valve assembly


52


and a knob


53


. Inasmuch as the fuel delivery system


50


largely is concealed by other components within the chassis


10


of the stove


100


, only portions of it are visible in the figures.

FIG. 10B

is a top plan view of the stove


100


in an exemplary high-profile exposed-burner stove configuration, such as configuration A. The regulator hose assembly


51


may attach to an inlet end of the valve assembly


52


with, for example, a flare nut. The valve assembly


52


may attach to the frame


1


and control panel


4


with, for example, jam nuts. The knobs


53


may be secured to the valve assembly


52


with, for example, screws. The knobs


53


may control the flow of fuel through the valve assembly


52


. The gas tip assemblies


54


may be attached to an outlet end of the valve assembly


52


and to an inlet of the burner system


60


. Depending on the burner system


60


configuration, the stove


100


may be equipped with one knob


53


per burner system


60


, as in

FIG. 10B

, or with two knobs


53


per burner system


60


, as in

FIGS. 1

, and


6


-


8


.




The Burner Systems




As shown in

FIG. 10B

, each of the burner systems


60


may include a burner


61


, wind baffle


62


, and a burner support


63


. Although the figures show exemplary embodiments of the stove


100


as having two burner systems


60


and two side table assemblies


20


, the stove


100


may be constructed with only one burner system


60


, or with only one side table assembly


20


. The burner


61


and wind baffle


62


may be attached to the burner support


63


with, for example, screws. Burner gratings


9


may be attached to the frame


1


for support and form a part of the chassis


10


. The burner


61


may include two sub-burners,


61




a


and


61




b


, that may be configured such that a low power sub-burner


61




b


nests inside a high power sub-burner


61




a


forming a “burner-in-burner” system. Each sub-burner


61




a


and


61




b


may be controlled by a separate knob


53


, having two knobs


53


per burner system


60


, as mentioned above, or a single knob


53


may control both sub-burners


61




a


and


61




b.







FIGS. 11A and 11B

further illustrate exemplary sub-burners


61




a


and


61




b


.

FIGS. 11A and 11B

are a top plan view and a cross-sectional side elevational view, respectively, of an exemplary low power sub-burner


61




b


nested within an exemplary high power sub-burner


61




a


. In addition to incorporating, for example, a Venturi configuration


64


, the high power sub-burner


61




a


may include internal baffles


65


to more evenly distribute the fuel circumferentially around an annular gas chamber


66


to burner holes


67


and burner combs


68


. The internal baffles


65


may be useful in reducing the gas pressure near the entrance of the annular gas chamber


66


, lessening the likelihood that the gas will flow unevenly out the burner holes


67


and possibly flare up near the entrance. The low power sub-burner


61




b


also may include internal baffles


65


, which may be less predominant than those in the high power sub-burner


61




a


, due to the lower pressure at which gas flows to the low power sub-burner


61




b


. In effect, the internal baffles


65


may divide the annular gas chamber


66


between a lower annular gas chamber


66




a


and an upper annular gas chamber


66




b


. Similarly, the internal baffles


65


may be replaced with a perforated plenum (not shown) to separate the annular gas chamber


66


into a lower annular gas chamber


66




a


and an upper annular gas chamber


66




b.






In distinction from former designs that enable either high heating ranges or low heating ranges, this burner-in-burner system may allow full adjustment of the fuel flow to facilitate an incremental heating range allowing low, medium and high heating. Typically, burners designed with enough BTU input to heat large cooking vessels effectively cannot be adjusted low enough for general purpose cooking. Moreover, at low heat settings, the high output burners are prone to being extinguished in the wind. However, the incremental heating range of the present invention effectively may provide between as little as 5% and as much as 100% of the total flow, with the total flow providing up to 100,000 BTU per hour, i.e., enough BTU input to heat large cooking vessels.




The Windscreen Assembly




As shown in

FIGS. 1 and 8

, the windscreen assembly


70


may include three sheets


71


attached to each other by two hinges


72


. The windscreen assembly


70


may be removably secured to the frame


1


with, for example, clips


73


. The windscreen assembly


70


may be detached from the frame


1


and folded for storage inside the stove


100


when the stove


100


is collapsed, as in FIG.


4


.




The Hoist Assembly




Referring to

FIG. 8

, the hoist assembly


80


may include a winch head


81


, a pole extension


82


, and a pole base


83


. A proximate end


83




a


of the pole base


83


may be shaped to fit within a pole holder


84


attached to or integral with the frame


1


.

FIG. 12A

is a sectional perspective view of an exemplary pole holder


84


in which an exemplary hoist assembly


80


is inserted. Although the pole holder


84


is shown in the right rear corner, it may be constructed at any corner of a burner system


60


. A proximate end


82




a


of the pole extension


82


may fit within a recess in a distal end


83




b


of the pole base


83


, and similarly, a proximate end


81




a


of the winch head


81


may fit within a distal end


82




b


of the pole extension


82


.





FIG. 12B

is a sectional side elevational view of an exemplary winch head


81


. At a distal end


81




b


of the winch head


81


, an overhang


81




c


may place a winch wire


85


above a center of the burner system


60


located beneath the overhang


81




c


, thereby centering the item to be hung by the winch wire. A winch handle


81




d


may be used to coil and uncoil the winch wire


85


, thereby raising and lowering the item hanging by the winch wire


85


. An important advantage of the hoist assembly


80


is that it allows a person to slowly lower a heavy piece of food, like a turkey, into, for example, a vessel of hot oil without bearing the weight of the food with ones arms. The winch head


81


may operate as a conventional reversible ratchet system, providing incremental support for the load as a ratchet tooth (not shown) engages a series of ratchet cogs (not shown).




In particular, the previously used methods for placing large items, such as turkeys, into large vessels of boiling oil, for example, involved the user lowering the turkey by hand into the boiling oil. When the turkey, which commonly is still defrosting and thus partly frozen, contacts the boiling oil, the oil vaporizes the water or ice crystals, causing the oil to crackle and splatter. The splattering oil potentially may cause the user to jump backward and rapidly drop the turkey, resulting in even greater displacement of the boiling oil as much of the water or ice quickly evaporates, creating a potentially explosive situation with water vapor quickly increasing the pressure in the turkey and the vessel. However, by using the hoist assembly


80


, the user may lower the turkey more slowly, resulting in less splattering, and from a distance, decreasing the likelihood that oil may splatter on the user. If the user steps back, the winch head


81


holds the turkey in place and prevents it from dropping farther.




A number of embodiments of the present invention have been described above. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments may be within the scope of the following claims. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. It is also understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention, expressed or implied.



Claims
  • 1. A collapsible portable stove comprising:a chassis, a burner system attached to the chassis, a fuel delivery system coupled to the burner system, and an elevation system having leg assemblies connected to the chassis, the elevation system having at least three of the leg assemblies; wherein the leg assemblies include an upper leg, a lower leg, and a locking mechanism, the upper leg having a proximate end pivotally attached to the chassis and a distal end pivotally attached to the lower leg, the lacking mechanism configured to lock the lower leg into the upper leg when the lower leg and the upper leg are in a deployed position; and wherein the leg assemblies may fold into the chassis for storage when the collapsible portable stove is in a collapsed configuration and the leg assemblies may unfold to elevate the collapsible portable stove in an expanded configuration.
  • 2. The stove according to claim 1, further comprising a shelf assembly, wherein the shelf assembly removably attaches to an underside of the chassis for storage, to a topside of the chassis for table space, and to the leg assemblies for shelf space beneath the chassis and between the leg assemblies.
  • 3. The stove according to claim 1, further comprising a windscreen assembly removably attached to the chassis and arranged around the burner system.
  • 4. The stove according to claim 1, further comprising a hoist assembly having a pole and a winch attached to a top of the pole, the winch including a winch wire, and the winch being operable to lower and raise an end of the winch wire toward and away from the burner assembly, and wherein a base of the pole is held removably within a pole holder attached to the chassis.
  • 5. The stove according to claim 1, further comprising a side table assembly slidably attached to a topside of the chassis, wherein the side table assembly slides outward along a pair of slides to reveal the burner system.
  • 6. The stove according to claim 1, wherein the upper leg of each of the leg assemblies comprises a support at a distal end, and wherein the leg assemblies elevate the collapsible portable stove to a low-profile configuration when the upper legs are unfolded and the lower legs are folded, the stove resting on the supports for the upper legs in the low-profile configuration, and wherein the leg assemblies elevate the collapsible portable stove to a high-profile configuration when the upper legs are unfolded and the lower legs are unfolded.
  • 7. The stove according to claim 1, wherein, for each leg assembly, the lower leg is pivotably connected in a earn slide slot and each leg assembly comprising a spring, the spring locks the lower leg in place against the upper leg in the folded position by exerting force on the lower leg so as to cause a detent groove on one of the lower leg and the upper leg to engage a detent bar on the other of the lower leg and the upper leg.
  • 8. The stove according to claim 1, wherein, for each leg assembly, the lower leg is pivotally connected in a cam slide slot, and the locking mechanism for each leg assembly comprising a spring, the spring biasing the lower leg in the deployed position along the cam slide slot so as to cause a tooth on one of the lower leg and the upper leg to engage a tooth groove on the other of the upper leg and the lower leg.
  • 9. The stove according to claim 8, wherein the spring locks the lower leg in place against the upper leg in the folded position by exerting force on the lower leg so as to cause a detent groove on the lower leg to engage a detent bar on the upper leg.
  • 10. The stove according to claim 1, further comprising a leg holder on the chassis, one of the upper leg and the leg holder comprising a tooth, and the other comprising a tooth detent, the upper leg being pivotally attached to the leg holder along a cam slide slot, and wherein the tooth is situated and configured to engage and lock into the tooth detent when the leg assembly is a deployed position.
  • 11. The stove according to claim 1, wherein the burner system includes a high power sub-burner and a low power sub-burner that nests inside the high power sub-burner to form a burner-in-burner system, wherein the low power sub-burner includes internal baffles configured and positioned to divide an annular gas chamber for the low power sub-burner between an lower annular gas chamber and an upper annular gas chamber so as to more evenly distribute fuel circumferentially around an annular gas chamber for the low power sub-burner before the fuel exits out burner holes for the low power sub-burner.
  • 12. The stove according to claim 11, wherein the high power sub-burner includes internal baffles configured and positioned to divide an annular gas chamber for the high power sub-burner between an lower annular gas chamber and an upper annular gas chamber so as to more evenly distribute fuel circumferentially around an annular gas chamber for the high power sub-burner before the fuel exits out burner holes for the high power sub-burner.
  • 13. The stove according to claim 1, wherein the burner system includes a high power sub-burner and a low power sub-burner that nests inside the high power sub-burner to form a burner-in-burner system, wherein the high power sub-burner includes internal baffles configured and positioned to divide an annular gas chamber for the high power sub-burner between an lower annular gas chamber and an upper annular gas chamber so as to more evenly distribute fuel circumferentially around an annular gas chamber for the high power sub-burner before the fuel exits out burner holes for the high power sub-burner.
  • 14. A collapsible portable stove comprising:a chassis, a burner system attached to the chassis, a fuel delivery system coupled to the burner system, and a hoist assembly having a pole and a winch attached to a top of the pole, the winch including a winch wire, and the winch being operable to lower and raise an end of the winch wire toward and away from the burner assembly, and wherein a base of the pole is held removably within a pole holder attached to the chassis.
  • 15. The stove according to claim 14, further comprising an elevation system having leg assemblies connected to the chassis, the elevation system having at least three of the leg assemblies;wherein the leg assemblies include an upper leg and a lower leg, the upper leg having a proximate end pivotally attached to the chassis and a distal end pivotally attached to the lower leg; wherein the leg assemblies may fold into the chassis for storage when the collapsible portable stove is in a collapsed configuration, and the leg assemblies may unfold to elevate the collapsible portable stove in an expanded configuration; and wherein the leg assemblies elevate the collapsible portable stove to a low-profile configuration when the upper legs are unfolded and the lower legs are folded, and wherein the leg assemblies elevate the collapsible portable stove to a high-profile configuration when the upper legs are unfolded and the lower legs are unfolded.
  • 16. The stove according to claim 14, further comprising a shelf assembly, wherein the shelf assembly removably attaches to an underside of the chassis for storage, to a topside of the chassis for table space, and to the leg assemblies for shelf space beneath the chassis and between the leg assemblies.
  • 17. The stove according to claim 14, further comprising a windscreen assembly removably attached to the chassis and arranged around the burner system.
  • 18. The stove according to claim 14, further comprising a side table assembly slidably attached to a topside of the chassis, wherein the side table assembly slides outward along a pair of slides to reveal the burner system.
  • 19. The stove according to claim 15, wherein the upper leg of each of the leg assemblies comprises a support at a distal end, and wherein the leg assemblies elevate the collapsible portable stove to a low-profile configuration when the upper legs are unfolded and the lower legs are folded, the stove resting on the supports for the upper legs in the low-profile configuration, and wherein the leg assemblies elevate the collapsible portable stove to a high-profile configuration when the upper legs are unfolded and the lower legs are unfolded.
  • 20. The stove according to claim 14, wherein the burner system includes a high power sub-burner and a low power sub-burner that nests inside the high power sub-burner to form a burner-in-burner system, wherein the low power sub-burner includes internal baffles configured and positioned to divide an annular gas chamber for the low power sub-burner between an lower annular gas chamber and an upper annular gas chamber so as to more evenly distribute fuel circumferentially around an annular gas chamber for the low power sub-burner before the fuel exits out burner holes for the low power sub-burner.
  • 21. The stove according to claim 20, wherein the high power sub-burner includes internal baffles configured and positioned to divide an annular gas chamber for the high power sub-burner between an lower annular gas chamber and an upper annular gas chamber so as to more evenly distribute fuel circumferentially around an annular gas chamber for the high power sub-burner before the fuel exits out burner holes for the high power sub-burner.
  • 22. The stove according to claim 20, wherein the burner system includes a high power sub-burner and a low power sub-burner that nests inside the high power sub-burner to form a burner-in-burner system, wherein the high power sub-burner includes internal baffles configured and positioned to divide an annular gas chamber for the high power sub-burner between an lower annular gas chamber and an upper annular gas chamber so as to more evenly distribute fuel circumferentially around an annular gas chamber for the high power sub-burner before the fuel exits out burner holes for the high power sub-burner.
  • 23. A collapsible portable stove comprising:a chassis, a burner system attached to the chassis, a fuel delivery system coupled to the burner system, an elevation system having leg assemblies connected to the chassis, the elevation system having at least three of the leg assemblies; wherein the leg assemblies include an upper leg and a lower leg, the upper leg having a proximate end pivotally attached to the chassis and a distal end pivotally attached to the lower leg; wherein the leg assemblies may fold into the chassis for storage when the collapsible portable stove is in a collapsed configuration, and the leg assemblies may unfold to elevate the collapsible portable stove in an expanded configuration, and a leg holder on the chassis, one of the upper leg for a leg assembly and the leg holder comprising a tooth, and the other comprising a tooth detent the upper leg being pivotally attached to the leg holder along a cam slide slot, and wherein the tooth is situated and configured to engage and lock into the tooth detent when the leg assembly is a deployed position.
  • 24. The stove according to claim 23, wherein the leg assemblies elevate the collapsible portable stove to a low-profile configuration when the upper legs are unfolded and the lower legs are folded, and wherein the leg assemblies elevate the collapsible portable stove to a high-profile configuration when the upper legs are unfolded and the lower legs are unfolded.
  • 25. The stove according to claim 23, further comprising a shelf assembly, wherein the shelf assembly removably attaches to an underside of the chassis for storage, to a topside of the chassis for table space, and to the leg assemblies for shelf space beneath the chassis and between the leg assemblies.
  • 26. The stove according to claim 23, further comprising a windscreen assembly removably attached to the chassis and arranged around the burner system.
  • 27. The stove according to claim 23, wherein the upper leg of each of the leg assemblies comprises a support at a distal end, and wherein the leg assemblies elevate the collapsible portable stove to a low-profile configuration when the upper legs are unfolded and the lower legs are folded, the stove testing on the supports for the upper legs in the low-profile configuration, and wherein the leg assemblies elevate the collapsible portable stove to a high-profile configuration when the upper legs are unfolded and the lower legs are unfolded.
  • 28. The stove according to claim 23, wherein the burner system includes a high power sub-burner and a low power sub-burner that nests inside the high power sub-burner to form a burner-in-burner system, wherein the low power sub-burner includes internal baffles configured and positioned to divide an annular gas chamber for the low power sub-burner between an lower annular gas chamber and an upper annular gas chamber so as to more evenly distribute fuel circumferentially around an annular gas chamber for the low power sub-burner before the fuel exits out burner boles for the low power sub-burner.
  • 29. The stove according to claim 28, wherein the high power sub-burner includes internal baffles configured and positioned to divide an annular gas chamber for the high power sub-burner between an lower annular gas chamber and an upper annular gas chamber so as to more evenly distribute fuel circumferentially around an annular gas chamber for the high power sub-burner before the fuel exits out burner holes for the high power sub-burner.
  • 30. The stove according to claim 28, wherein the burner system includes a high power sub-burner and a low power sub-burner that nests inside the high power sub-burner to form a burner-in-burner system, wherein the high power sub-burner includes internal baffles configured and positioned to divide an annular gas chamber for the high power sub-burner between an lower annular gas chamber and an upper annular gas chamber so as to more evenly distribute fuel circumferentially around an annular gas chamber for the high power sub-burner before the fuel exits out burner holes for the high power sub-burner.
  • 31. A collapsible portable stove comprising:a chassis, a burner system attached to the chassis, and a fuel delivery system coupled to the burner system, wherein the burner system includes a high power sub-burner and a low power sub-burner that nests inside the high power sub-burner to form a burner-in-burner system, wherein one of the low power sub-burner and the high power sub-burner includes internal baffles configured and positioned to divide an annular gas chamber for the one between an lower annular gas chamber and an upper annular gas chamber so as to more evenly distribute fuel circumferentially around an annular gas chamber for the one before the fuel exits out burner holes for the one.
  • 32. The stove according to claim 31, wherein the other of the low power sub-burner and the high power sub-burner includes internal baffles configured and positioned to divide an annular gas chamber for the other between an lower annular gas chamber and an upper annular gas chamber so as to more evenly distribute fuel circumferentially around an annular gas chamber for the other before the fuel exits out burner holes for the other.
  • 33. The stove according to claim 31, wherein internal baffles comprise a perforated plenum between an lower annular gas chamber and an upper annular gas chamber.
  • 34. The stove according to claim 31, further comprising an elevation system having leg assemblies connected to the chassis, the elevation system having at least three of the leg assemblies;wherein the leg assemblies include an upper leg and a lower leg, the upper leg having a proximate end pivotally attached to the chassis and a distal end pivotally attached to the lower leg; wherein the leg assemblies may fold into the chassis for storage when the collapsible portable stove is in a collapsed configuration, and the leg assemblies may unfold to elevate the collapsible portable stove in an expanded configuration; and wherein the leg assemblies elevate the collapsible portable stove to a low-profile configuration when the upper legs are unfolded and the lower legs are folded, and wherein the leg assemblies elevate the collapsible portable stove to a high-profile configuration when the upper legs are unfolded and the lower legs are unfolded.
  • 35. The stove according to claim 31, further comprising a shelf assembly, wherein the shelf assembly removably attaches to an underside of the chassis for storage, to a topside of the chassis for table space, and to the leg assemblies for shelf space beneath the chassis and between the leg assemblies.
  • 36. The stove according to claim 31, further comprising a windscreen assembly removably attached to the chassis and arranged around the burner system.
  • 37. The stove according to claim 34, wherein the upper leg of each of the leg assemblies comprises a support at a distal end, and wherein the leg assemblies elevate the collapsible portable stove to a low-profile configuration when the upper legs are unfolded and the lower legs are folded, the stove resting on the supports for the upper legs in the low-profile configuration, and wherein the leg assemblies elevate the collapsible portable stove to a high-profile configuration when the upper legs are unfolded and the lower legs are unfolded.
US Referenced Citations (6)
Number Name Date Kind
744901 Butterworth Nov 1903 A
1130760 Paffrath Mar 1915 A
2852016 Weatherwax Sep 1958 A
5342192 Hirano Aug 1994 A
5765469 Schlosser et al. Jun 1998 A
5979431 Hamilton et al. Nov 1999 A