Portable Stove

The technical field of this invention relates to stoves, particularly of the type that are portable and easily transported.

Stoves capable of being easily transported, assembled, and collapsed are well known in the art as shown by early U.S. Pat. Nos. 163,202; 165,444; 299,713; and, 479,652. Many later developed portable stoves include heater-cooker arrangements such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,639,704; 3,327,698; and 3,769,957. As shown in the art, some references particularly detail locking mechanisms utilized for securing the foldable legs in a down and locked position such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 185,778; 943,569; 1,518,650; 2,597,477; 2,836,476; and 3,566,856. These references, in part detail the utilization of pivotally mounted supporting legs and having some type of feature for insuring that the legs once in a fully extended position, are locked and will not inadvertently collapse or be released unless such is desired.

Other references disclose utilization of a plurality of orifices or openings used to permit the ingress and egress of heat-smoke-air for use within and by the portable stove such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 936,482. However, no portable stove is available, so far as is known, that is capable of supporting the fuel element used in heating the stove utensils at a predetermined location below the support plate yet having appropriate structure for spacing the cooking utensil from the surface of the support plate to not only insure positive air flow to the fuel element but also properly space the utensil from the flame of the fuel element and the support plate surface.

The present invention relates to a new and improved portable stove for supporting the stove utensils and heating the same with a fuel element, the portable stove including a support plate having plural support legs pivotally mounted therewith for support thereof, a fuel receptacle with the support plate for receiving the fuel element for heating the stove utensils and spacer members with the support plate for spacing the stove utensils a predetermined distance from the upper surface of the support plate for proper heating thereof.

FIG. 1 is a elevational view, partly in section, of the portable stove of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the portable stove of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, taken along the lines 3--3 of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the locking means of the portable stove of the present invention.

In the drawings, the portable stove of the present invention is designated generally by the letter S. The portable stove S is for supporting stove utensils and heating same with a fuel element and includes a support plate P, support legs L, a fuel receptacle R and spacer means M. Unless otherwise noted, the components of the portable stove S of the present invention are preferably formed of a suitable heat resistant yet heat transferable material such as a suitable metal or the like.

The portable stove S of the present invention includes a support plate P. The support plate P includes a plate 10 having an upper surface 10a, lower surface 10b and a downwardly, extending perimeter lip 10c. Preferably, the plate 10 is of generally of a circular configuration, however, any other suitable configuration may be used.

The portable stove of the present invention further includes a plurality of support legs L which include legs 12, 14, 16. Each of the legs 12, 14, 16 are substantially identical and have all component parts as described hereinafter with respect to leg 14. The leg 14 of the support legs L is shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. The support legs L preferably are pivotally mounted with the lower surface 10b of the plate 10 of the support plate P for supporting the support plate P. The support legs L such as leg 14 includes a depending portion 14a which preferably has a curved lower end 14b, with the depending portion 14a being preferably of a somewhat tapered configuration, with the taper increasing in width from the curved lower end to the upper portion 14c thereof.

Preferably, the leg 14 is formed having mounting flanges 14d, 14e formed with the upper portion 14c of the leg 14 and extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of the upper portion 14c. Each of the mounting flanges 14d, 14e is formed having a suitable locking tab 14f, 14g therewith, respectively as discussed more fully hereinbelow. Preferably, suitable, axially aligned openings 14h, 14i are formed in the mounting flanges 14d, 14e, respectively adjacent the upper portion 14c of the leg 14 of the support legs L. The leg 14 is formed having an upper surface 14j adjacent the upper end of the upper portion 14c.

The support legs L are pivotally mounted with the lower surface 10b of the plate 10 by means of suitable leg mounting brackets 18, 20, 22 which secure legs 12, 14, 16, respectively to the plate 10. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the leg mounting bracket 20, which is substantially identical to leg mounting brackets 18, 22, will be detailed for the purposes of explanation. Leg mounting bracket 20 preferably is of a generally U-shaped configuration. As best seen in FIG. 4, leg mounting bracket 20 has an upper portion 20a, having an upper surface 20b and a lower surface 20c, depending side portion 20d having an inner surface 20e and an outer surface 20f, and a depending side portion 20g having an inner surface 20h and an outer surface 20i. Thus the upper portion 20a and the depending side portions 20d, 20g generally define the U-shaped configuration of the leg mounting brackets 18, 20, 22 of the present invention.

Preferably, suitable axially aligned openings 20j, 20k are formed in depending side portions 20d, 20g, respectively and adapted to be axially aligned with openings 14h, 14i, respectively, of the leg 14. Suitable pivot pins 24, 26, 28, pivotally affix the legs 12, 14, 16 with the leg mounting brackets 18, 20, 22, respectively. As best shown in FIG. 4, pivot pin 26 is adapted to be disposed in aligned openings 20j, 14i, 14h, 20k, and in any suitable fashion, be secured with the leg mounting bracket 20 to permit pivotal movement of the leg 14 with respect to the leg mounting bracket 20. The leg mounting brackets 18, 20, 22 are secured to the lower surface 10b of the plate 10 in any suitable fashion which may include welding, gluing, bolting or any other suitable fashion.

The support legs L of the portable stove S of the present invention are movable between a retracted position and an extended position as best shown in FIG. 3, with the support legs L supporting the support plate P of the portable stove S when the support legs L are in the extended position designated as 30 in FIG. 3. The support legs L are then movable from the extended position 30 to the retracted position 32, which is shown in dashed lines in FIG. 3 and discussed more fully hereinbelow. The leg mounting brackets 18, 20, 22 are further formed having locking detents 20l, 20m formed in the depending side portions 20d, 20g, respectively, which may be openings, or any other suitable formed detent. As such, the locking detents 20l, 20m are adapted to receive the locking tabs 14g, 14f, respectively of the support legs L, when the support legs L are in the extended position 30 for releasably securing the support legs L in the extended position. As such, it is preferred that the inherent resiliency of the material of the support legs L be such that the mounting flanges 14d, 14e have suitable flex to allow flexure thereof permitting the mounting flanges 14d, 14e to move inwardly with respect to one another upon the locking tabs 14f, 14g engaging the inner surfaces 20h, 20e of depending side portions 20g, 20d, respectively, until such engages the respective locking detents 20m, 20l, respectively. Thus, when fully extended, the locking tabs 14f, 14g are in full engagement with the locking detents 20m, 20l for securing the support legs L in the extended position.

Should it be desirable to collapse the support legs L into the retracted position 32, then force applied adjacent the depending portion 14a of the leg 14 permits sufficient torque to be generated about the pin 26 to resiliently force the locking tabs 14f, 14g inwardly with respect to one another and out of their respective locking detents 20m, 20l, respectively to permit the leg 14 to pivot about the pin 26 to the retracted position 32. It should be noted further that when the support leg L is in the extended position 30, that the upper surface 14j of the leg 14 preferably engages the lower surface 20c of the upper portion 20a of the leg mounting bracket 20 for providing additional support thereof. Also, when in the extended position the support leg L further engages the bottom portion of the perimeter lip 10c of the plate 10 as best seen in FIG. 3. It will be appreciated that the locking tabs 14f, 14g and the locking detents 20l, 20m form the locking means 34 of the present invention. Further, it will be appreciated that the exterior surface of the mounting flanges 14d, 14e of leg 14 of the support legs L are preferably curved (FIG. 3) to permit unrestrained rotation of the leg 14 about the pivot pin 26 during movement between the extended position 30 and the retracted position 32. Further, it will also be appreciated that when the support legs L are in a retracted position 32 as best shown in FIG. 3 that the support legs L come into engagement with the lower end of the fuel receptacle R.

The portable stove S of the present invention further includes a fuel receptacle R with the support plate S for receiving a fuel element (not shown) for heating the stove utensils and their contents. The fuel receptacle R includes receptacle 36 which may be of a cupped-like, semi-globular configuration or any other suitable configuration. Preferably the full receptacle R extends below the lower surface 10b of plate 10 and may be formed having a plurality of openings, such as opening 36a, about the upper portion of the receptacle 36 adjacent to the mounting of the receptacle 36 with the support plate P. The receptacle 36 may be formed with the support plate P as an integral unit as shown in the FIGS. 1-3. Alternatively the receptable 36 may be removably affixed to the support plate P in any suitable fashion, such as by way of threaded engagement therebetween, and/or a suitable opening (not shown) formed in the support plate P and an appropriate depending lip (not shown) formed about the upper end of the receptacle 36 permitting the receptacle 36 to hang in such a suitably formed opening, or in any other suitable fashion secured to and/or formed with the support plate P. The receptacle 36 is adapted to receive a suitable fuel element (not shown) which may be of any particular type. The portable stove S of the present invention is most particularly adapted to be used with the fuel element to my co-pending United States patent application entitled "SOLID FUEL COMPOSITION", Ser. No. 179,118 filed Aug. 18, 1980 and now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,968 on Sept. 1, 1981, filed concurrently with this application. It is preferred that the openings 36a are provided in the receptacle 36 for permitting proper amounts of air to flow to the fuel element for combustion thereof. Preferably, the openings are spaced a predetermined amount, designated by the arrow 38 in FIG. 3 below the lower surface 10b of the plate 10 for enhanced combustion of the fuel element (not shown) in the receptacle 36. Alternatively, the preferred spacing may be measured from the base of the receptacle 36 to the openings 36a. It should be understood that the predetermined amount 38 is of extreme importance in controlling the proper burn of the fuel element and thus, the number, the location and size of the openings 36a formed in the receptacle 36 are of the utmost importance in insuring a properly heating portable stove S.

The portable stove S further includes spacer means M. Preferably, the spacer means M includes a spacer projection such as spacer projections 40, 42, 44, which extend upwardly from the upper surface 10a of the plate 10 a predetermined distance designated by the arrow 46 in FIG. 3. The spacer projections 40, 42, 44 may be formed with the support plate P or independent thereof. As best seen in FIG. 2, the spacer projections 40, 42, 44 preferably extend radially outwardly from the fuel receptacle R to the perimeter lip 10c of the plate 10. The cooking utensils (not shown) are adapted to be placed upon the portable stove S in such a fashion that the spacer projections 40, 42, 44 of the spacer means M support such cooking utensils. The predetermined distance 46 from the upper surface 10a of the support plate P permits proper circulation of the combustion flame from the fuel element (not shown) onto the cooking utensil as well as providing a passageway for sufficient circulation of the heated air about the bottom portion of the cooking utensil placed upon the portable stove S. Thus, the predetermined distance 46 insures properly spaced location of the cooking utensil from the upper surface 10a of the support plate P while the predetermined amount 38 insures proper air flow across the burner element in the fuel receptacle R for insuring proper burning of the fuel element in using the portable stove S of the present invention.

Thus, the portable stove S of the present invention provides a new and improved portable stove for supporting and heating stove utensils.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials as well as in the details of the preferred embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.