Ash catcher for fireplace insert

An ash catcher for use in connection with a wood stove adapted to be inserted into a fireplace having a raised hearth comprising:

• an open top pan including a bottom and a surrounding wall structure;
• hearth engaging means for supporting the rear portion of said pan on said hearth and adjacent to said woodstove;
• a pair of legs for supporting the front portion of said pan;
• and at least one leg secured to said rear portion of said pan and movable between a retracted position when said pan is in engagement with said hearth and a downward, substantially vertically position for supporting said rear portion of said pan when said pan is not in engagement with said hearth;
• means for biasing said rear leg to said downward position such that when said pan is removed from said hearth, said rear leg automatically assumes a downward position;
• a retractable cover slidably attached to the ash catcher and moveable between a closed position and a storage position wherein the cover overlies the pan to prevent spillage of ashes contained in the pan when the cover is in the closed position, and wherein the cover is substantially disposed below and approximately parallel to the bottom of the pan when the cover is in the storage position.

An ash catcher for use in connection with a woodstove adapted to be inserted into a fireplace, said fireplace having a raised hearth, said woodstove having an outwardly extending ledge defining an open space between said ledge and the top of said hearth, comprising:

• an open top pan including a bottom and a surrounding wall structure, said surrounding wall structure having a rear wall, a front wall and side walls connecting opposite ends of said front and rear walls;
• wherein at least one of the walls of the wall structure of the pan is moveable between a closed position where the wall structure is enclosed for containing ashes and an open position where a wall opening is formed in the wall structure through which ashes contained in the pan can be swept through hearth engaging means for supporting the rear portion of said pan on said hearth such that said rear wall extends into said open space between said ledge and said hearth;
• a pair of legs for supporting the front portion of said pan;
• at least one rear leg pivotally secured to said pan and movable between a retracted position in which said rear leg is folded against the underside of said pan when said pan is in engagement with said hearth and a downward, substantially vertical position for supporting the rear portion of said pan when said pan is not in engagement with said hearth;
• and means for biasing said rear leg to said downward position such that when said pan is removed from said hearth said rear leg automatically assumes a downward position;
• a retractable top slidably attached to the ash catcher and positionable between open and closed positions, wherein the top covers the pan to prevent spillage of ashes contained in the pan when the top is in the closed position, and wherein the top is substantially disposed below and approximately parallel to the bottom of the pan when the top is in the open position.

An ash catcher for use in connection with a woodstove adapted to be inserted into a fireplace comprising:

• a) an open top pan including a bottom and a surrounding wall structure;
• b) a plurality of legs for supporting said pan;
• c) a storage space disposed below, and generally parallel to, said bottom;
• d) a retractable cover slidably attached to said pan and movable between a closed position in which said cover at least partially encloses said open top pan, and a storage position in which said cover is retracted into said storage space.