Apparatus and method for simulated campfire
OwnerDaniel W. Van Vleetinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A portable campfire apparatus has a base, a fire pan supported by the base, a gas manifold disposed in the fire pan and a quantity of low-density, non-flammable particulate material in the fire pan at a depth to cover the manifold. The fire pan and the base are substantially the same shape and size. A cylindrical spacer can be interposed between the fire pan and the base, and a lid of geometry similar to the base and fire pan is disclosed and rests on an inwardly projecting shoulder on the rim of the fire pan. When upright, the upper rim is parallel to the ground, but when tipped over the rim is at an angle of no less than ninety degrees to the ground. Different shapes of the base and fire pan are taught, and different configurations of the manifold are shown.
Claims27
A campfire apparatus adapted to be placed in an assembled state on a support surface and connected to a source of fuel, comprising:
- (a) a base adapted to rest on the support surface when in the assembled state;
- (b) a fire pan adapted to be supported by said base when in the assembled state, said fire pan including a main body portion having an inner surface, an upper rim and a pan interior;
- (c) when in the assembled state, and having at least one gas outlet operative to introduce vaporized fuel into the pan interior when connected to the source of fuel;
- and
- (d) a quantity of low-density, non-flammable particulate material adapted to be disposed in said fire pan at a depth sufficient to cover said gas manifold when in he assembled state.
A portable camping stove adapted to be placed on a support surface and connect to a source of fuel, comprising:
- (a) a base operative adapted to rest on a support surface, said base constructed as a shell with a lower rim so as to have a base interior, said base having a selected geometric configuration and size;
- (b) a fire pan including a main body portion constructed as a shell with an upper rim so as to have a pan interior, said shell having a selected geometric configuration and size, said base and said fire pan being secured to one another so that the base interior and the pan interior are oppositely opening;
- and
- (c) a gas manifold disposed in the pan interior and having at least one gas outlet operative to introduce vaporized fuel into the pan interior when connected to the source of fuel.
A portable camping stove adapted to be placed on a support surface and connect to a source of fuel, comprising:
- (a) a fire pan including a main body portion constructed as a shell having a central pan axis and with an upper rim and a pan interior, said shell having a selected geometric configuration and size;
- (b) a base operative to rest on the support surface, said base constructed as a shell having a central base axis and with a lower rim and a base interior, said base having the selected geometric configuration and size, said base;
- (c) a spacer formed as a hollow connector and interposed between said fire pan and said base such that when connected together, the central pan axis and the central base axis are co-linear and the pan interior and the base interior are in an opposed relationship;
- (d) a gas manifold disposed in the interior of said fire pan and having at least one gas outlet operative to introduce vaporized fuel into the interior of said fire pan when connected to the source of fuel;
- (e) a connector associated with said gas manifold and adapted to connect to the source of fuel;
- (f) a lid constructed as a shell having the selected geometric configuration and size;
- and
- (g) a quantity of low density, fire-retardant material disposed in said fire pan at a depth sufficient to cover said gas manifold.
A campfire apparatus adapted to be placed in an assembled state on a support surface, comprising:
- (a) a base adapted to rest on the support surface when in the assembled state;
- (b) a fire pan adapted to be supported by said base when in the assembled state, said fire pan including a main body portion having an inner surface, an upper rim and a pan interior;
- (c) a reservoir adapted to provide a source of fuel;
- (d) a gas manifold adapted to be disposed in the pan interior when in the assembled state, and having at least one gas outlet operative to introduce vaporized fuel into the pan interior when connected to said source of fuel;
- and
- (e) a quantity of low-density, non-flammable particulate material adapted to be disposed in said fire pan at a depth sufficient to cover said gas manifold when in the assembled state.
A method of providing an artificial campfire on a support surface, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a fire pan having an interior and wherein said fire pan includes a gas manifold disposed in the interior thereof with said manifold having at least one gas outlet operative to introduce vaporized fuel into the interior of said fire pan;
- (b) supporting said fire pan in spaced relation to the support surface such that the interior thereof is upwardly opening;
- (c) placing a quantity of low density, fire retardant particulate material in said fire pan at a depth sufficient to cover said gas manifold thereby to achieve a surface spaced completely above said gas manifold;
- (d) introducing a fuel into said manifold at a pressure sufficient so that vaporized fuel is injected into the particulate material in a manner whereby the vaporized fuel migrates upwardly therethrough without igniting until it reaches the surface;
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- (e) igniting said vaporized fuel along the surface of said particulate material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.