Patent Application
20180058686
Camping, in general, is a popular holiday activity in many countries, especially in the United States. One of the enjoyable recreational activities of camping is the arrangement of a bonfire, or a campfire. Few campers find their interest in cooking in the bonfire itself, or they would just like to sit alongside the bonfire and have casual conversations enjoying the heat of the bonfire during the cold night. In general, one of the most common ways of setting up a bonfire is to arrange dry sheets of paper on the ground, place logs of firewood on top of the paper sheets, and then place larger logs of firewood on top. Once such arrangement of paper sheets and firewood is done, a person lits up the paper and the fire from the paper is transferred to the logs of firewood. As the fire continues to bum, the firewood turns to ash, and more firewood is added to keep the bonfire burning for longer.
However, adding firewood to the burning bonfire is a tiresome process and someone has to periodically monitor the bonfire so that the fire doesn't burn out completely. If the fire burns out, then the person has to perform the whole process of initiating the fire again. In addition to this, in certain areas, such as, some parks, or conserved areas, bonfire are not allowed since the fire can bum the grass and leave a charred impression on the ground, and might also leave a significant amount of ash on the ground. The authorities concerned with such places do not entertain such activities because of the above mentioned scenarios caused by the bonfire. Above all, building a bonfire by assembling paper and firewood on the ground is difficult and time-consuming. Therefore, there is a need for a bonfire device which can be portable, and which will allow loading of extra firewood without substantial monitoring from a person to avoid burn out.
The portable bonfire apparatus addresses the above mentioned need for a bonfire device which can be portable, and which will allow loading of extra firewood without substantial monitoring from a person to avoid burn out of the firewood. The portable bonfire apparatus comprises a grate frame, an ash collector tray, and a set of elongate rods. The grate frame is supported by one or more leg member assemblies, where the grate frame receives and burns firewood at an elevated height via each leg member assembly. The ash collector tray is positioned below the grate frame to collect ash from the burned firewood, and the elongate rods obliquely extend outwardly from opposing sides of the grate frame to receive and position additional firewood. The additional firewood slides towards the grate frame by gravity when the firewood received on the grate frame burns to ash and collects in the ash collector tray. In an embodiment, the elongate rods are removably attachable to the grate frame.
In an embodiment, the elevated height achieved via the leg member assemblies for the reception and burning of the firewood on the grate frame, prevents a surface below the portable bonfire apparatus from being burned. In an embodiment, the ash collector tray is slidably inserted below the grate frame through a flanged section positioned below the grate frame. In an embodiment, the firewood is positioned perpendicular to the length of each elongate rod extending outwardly from opposing sides of the grate frame. In an embodiment, the firewood is positioned perpendicular to the length of each elongate rod extending outwardly from opposing sides of the grate frame. In an embodiment, each leg member assembly is a telescopic arrangement comprising a first leg member of the grate frame inserted into a detachable second leg member. In an embodiment, the ash collected inside the ash collector tray is disposed by slidably removing the ash collector tray from the grate frame.
In an embodiment, the elevated height achieved via the leg member assemblies 104 for the reception and burning of the firewood 105 on the grate frame 101, prevents a surface below the portable bonfire apparatus 100 from being burned. The leg member assembly 104 is height adjustable which enables the portable bonfire apparatus 100 to be positioned at a reasonable height above the ground, therefore, lawn and grass on the ground are effectively prevented from being burned out during the bonfire. In an embodiment, the firewood 105 is positioned perpendicular to the length of each elongate rod 103 extending outwardly from opposing sides 101a and 101b of the grate frame 101. The perpendicular positioning of the additional firewood 105a allows the additional firewood 105a to roll down on to the grate frame 101 under gravity when the existing firewood 105 burns and becomes ash which gets collected in the ash collector tray 102. Even if a user positions damp additional firewood 105a on the elongate rods 103, the heat from the grate frame 101 shall dry out the damp additional firewood 105a which will further roll down onto the grate frame 101.
Considering the above aspects, the portable bonfire apparatus 100 benefits homeowners in multiple ways. Almost everyone enjoys a good fire, and this is evident in the fact that most new homes have a fireplace not to supply heat to the house but because of the soothing effect a fire has in general. In addition, a lot of high end homes now have an outside kitchen with a fireplace to allow the people to enjoy the outdoors while sitting around a fire, roasting hot dogs or marshmallows or just relaxing with friends and family. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford to spend $20,000.00 dollars, or more for this luxury. The portable bonfire apparatus 100 will allow families to enjoy a beautiful crackling fire in a cost effective manner. And unlike conventional bonfires that are built on the lawn, that you have to shovel the soot, place it in a wheelbarrow and haul it off, leaving an unclean burnt place in the yard, the portable bonfire apparatus 100 will not burn the lawn and the soot catcher or the ash collector tray 102 can be removed, and emptied in the flower bed for fertilizer, and the portable bonfire apparatus 100 can be disassembled in minutes and stored out of the way until next use.
According to the census bureau, there are over 79 million single family homes in the United States, which includes mobile homes. Almost 75 percentage (%) of the homeowners own a barbecue grill, which in general, means they enjoy cooking outdoors. This aspect translates to over 59 million families that enjoy cooking outdoors and could be potentially benefit from the portability and storage ability of the portable bonfire apparatus 100. In addition, as the portable bonfire apparatus 100 is portable and can be stored in, for example, about a 2 foot square area by 12 inch high, makes the portable bonfire apparatus 100 perfect for campers. Many campgrounds now will not allow people to build a fire on the ground. The portable bonfire apparatus 100 solves this problem as it doesn't ruin the ground and is easy to clean up.
In addition to not damaging the lawn and the easy clean up, the wood can be placed on the fire grate or grate frame 101, and additional logs can be loaded on the elongate rods 103 extending from the grate frame 101. The fire can be lit by placing paper, small twigs or a fireplace log in the ash collector tray 102. As the fire burns the logs on the grate frame 101, with a little stoking, the logs on the elongate rods 103 will roll onto the grate frame 101 allowing the fire to burn for hours. Also, additional logs can be loaded on the elongate rods 103 without the danger of throwing logs onto a traditional bonfire that might cause an already burning log to roll out of the fire on to the lawn possibly catching something else on fire or burning someone. The portable bonfire apparatus 100 is a lot safer.
Further, the portable bonfire apparatus 100 allows a user to enjoy a campfire without burning the grass or the lawn below the portable bonfire apparatus 100. The design of the portable bonfire apparatus 100 enables it to burn longer than other fire pits, where consistent supply of firewood 105 is required to keep the fire burning. The unique gravity loading of the firewood 105 logs into the grate frame 101 of the portable bonfire apparatus 100 reduces the chances of a user getting burned by the flames, in the case, when he or she is actually manually loading a fire pit. Once the firewood 105 is lit up over the grate frame 101, additional firewood 105a can be loaded on to the extending elongate rods 103 which will allow the firewood 105 logs to be gravity fed onto the grate frame 101 owing to the oblique arrangement of the elongate rods 103. The ash collector tray 102 or the soot pan positioned at the bottom of the grate frame 101 enables the removal of the ash formed over the grate frame 101 which falls and gets collected in the ash collector tray 102.
The foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present concept disclosed herein. While the concept has been described with reference to various embodiments, it is understood that the words, which have been used herein, are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Further, although the concept has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, the concept is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the concept extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the teachings of this specification, may affect numerous modifications thereto and changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the concept in its aspects.
