Patent Application
20170276371
Technical Field
This invention relates generally to camp fire cover and more particularly to a vented camp fire tarp.
State of the Art
Campers, outdoor enthusiast and the like often go camping to enjoy the outdoors and spend time in nature. One consistent aspect of camping is the use of a campfire. Often times, a campfire ring exists as a designated spot to build and light a campfire. Campfires serve several purposes. Two of the most common purposes are to provide heat to the campers and the second is for cooking. Because of the fear of an unintentional start of a wildfire from a large ember escaping the campfire and igniting a wildfire, it is commonly required for the camper(s) to put out the fire completely prior to leaving camp for hiking, fishing, or the like or prior to the camper falling asleep. Currently, common methods of extinguishing a campfire involve the use of water or dirt or a combination of both. This makes it more difficult to start a new fire. Currently, there is not a device that can be used to protect the campfire from spreading while still allowing the campfire or coals from the campfire to burn and remain hot. There is also not a way to control the burn rate of the wood operating as fuel for the campfire. Because there is not such a device, a new campfire must always be started each time a camper has doused the flames and coal.
Accordingly, there is a need for a vented campfire tarp that allows controlling the burn of the fuel of a campfire while preventing large embers from escaping the campfire.
The present invention relates to a vented campfire tarp for use over a campfire or a campfire ring. The vented campfire tarp includes vents that may be located over a campfire within the campfire ring when securing the vented campfire tarp over the campfire and/or campfire ring. The vents allow air, smoke, and carbon dioxide to pass through openings of the vent to control the burn rate of the fuel of the campfire, such as, but not limited to, controlling the burn rate of wood used to make the campfire.
An embodiment includes a vented campfire tarp comprising a base portion; a vent formed in the base portion, wherein the vent allows for air, smoke, and carbon dioxide to pass through the vent from one side of the base portion to the other; and securing devices, wherein the securing devices couple the base portion to a ground surface when the vented campfire tarp is placed over a campfire.
Another embodiment includes a vented campfire tarp comprising a base portion; a plurality of vents formed in the base portion, wherein each vent allows for air, smoke, and carbon dioxide to pass through the vent from one side of the base portion to the other; and securing devices, wherein the securing devices couple the base portion to a ground surface when the vented campfire tarp is placed over a campfire.
Further, another embodiment includes a method of using a vented campfire tarp, the method comprising covering a campfire with the vented campfire tarp, wherein a plurality of vents of the vented campfire tarp are located over the campfire; coupling the vented campfire tarp to a ground surface adjacent the campfire ring to secure the vented campfire tarp over the campfire ring; and controlling a burn rate of wood of the campfire in response to controlling airflow through the plurality of vents of the vented campfire tarp.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the Figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to similar items throughout the Figures, and:
As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a vented campfire tarp for use over a campfire ring. The vented campfire tarp includes vents that may be located over a campfire within the campfire ring when securing the vented campfire tarp over the campfire ring. The vents allow air, smoke, and carbon dioxide to pass through openings of the vent to control the burn rate of the fuel of the campfire, such as, but not limited to, controlling the burn rate of wood used to make the campfire.
Referring to the drawings,
The flaps 18 may be coupled to the base portion 12. Each flap 18 corresponds to one vent 16. Each flap is moveable between an open and closed position. The open position exposes the vent 16 and allows air, smoke, and carbon dioxide to pass through the vent 16. The closed position covers the vent 16 and inhibits air from passing through the vent 16. The vented campfire tarp 10 may also include a flap fastener 20 for releasably coupling the flap 18 to the base portion 20 to retain the flap 18 in the open position. Further, the flap 18 is coupled to the base portion 12 with a hinge 17. In some embodiments, hinge 17 is a seam, wherein the flap 18 is pivotable or foldable about the seam 17. As shown in
In embodiments, the securing devices 14 are loops in the base portion 12 and a corresponding stake to insert through the loop and secure in the ground surface. In other embodiments, the securing devices 14 are apertures in the base portion and a corresponding stake to insert through the loop and secure in the ground surface. It will be understood that any type of securing device 14 may be utilized to secure the vented campfire tarp 10 to a ground surface over a campfire.
Referring to the drawings further,
The method 30 may further include preventing embers larger than ⅛ inch from escaping the campfire ring, preventing rain from entering the fire ring through the vent corresponding to the at least one flap in response to moving the at least one flap from the open to the closed position, and resisting heat up to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit.
The method 30 may also include removing the vented campfire tarp and utilizing the campfire. Further still, the method 30 includes controlling airflow through the plurality of vents of the vented campfire tarp in response to moving one or more flaps of a plurality of flaps corresponding to the plurality of vents between an open and closed position, wherein the open position exposes the vent and the closed position covers the vent.
Accordingly, the components defining any vented campfire tarp may be formed of any of many different types of materials or combinations thereof that can readily be formed into shaped objects provided that the components selected are consistent with the intended operation of a vented campfire tarp. For example, the components may be formed of: rubbers (synthetic and/or natural) and/or other like materials; glasses (such as fiberglass) carbon-fiber, aramid-fiber, any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; polymers such as thermoplastics (such as ABS, Fluoropolymers, Polyacetal, Polyamide; Polycarbonate, Polyethylene, Polysulfone, and/or the like), thermosets (such as Epoxy, Phenolic Resin, Polyimide, Polyurethane, Silicone, and/or the like), any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; composites and/or other like materials; metals, such as zinc, magnesium, titanium, copper, iron, steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, tool steel, stainless steel, aluminum, any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; alloys, such as aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, magnesium alloy, copper alloy, any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; any other suitable material; and/or any combination thereof.
Furthermore, the components defining any vented campfire tarp may be purchased pre-manufactured or manufactured separately and then assembled together. However, any or all of the components may be manufactured simultaneously and integrally joined with one another. Manufacture of these components separately or simultaneously may involve extrusion, pultrusion, vacuum forming, injection molding, blow molding, resin transfer molding, casting, forging, cold rolling, milling, drilling, reaming, turning, grinding, stamping, cutting, bending, welding, soldering, hardening, riveting, punching, plating, and/or the like. If any of the components are manufactured separately, they may then be coupled with one another in any manner, such as with adhesive, a weld, a fastener (e.g. a bolt, a nut, a screw, a nail, a rivet, a pin, and/or the like), wiring, any combination thereof, and/or the like for example, depending on, among other considerations, the particular material forming the components. Other possible steps might include sand blasting, polishing, powder coating, zinc plating, anodizing, hard anodizing, and/or painting the components for example.
The embodiments and examples set forth herein were presented in order to best explain the present invention and its practical application and to thereby enable those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the foregoing description and examples have been presented for the purposes of illustration and example only. The description as set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teachings above without departing from the spirit and scope of the forthcoming claims.
