HEAT DEFLECTOR FOR FIRE PIT

Abstract

A heat deflector for a fire pit includes primary and secondary deflector members. The secondary deflector member is mounted above the primary deflector member to define a heat chamber between the two deflector members. The primary deflector member defines openings to allow hot air and combustion products to pass through the primary deflector member under the secondary deflector member. The outer portions of the primary deflector member are bent downwardly. The heat deflector is mounted above a fire pit on a single accessory post that allows the position of the heat deflector to be adjusted up and down as well as pivoting from a position where no portion of the heat deflector is above the fire pit to a position wherein the entire heat deflector is above the fire pit.

Claims

1. A heat deflector for a fire pit; the heat deflector comprising: a primary deflector member having an outer perimeter; a secondary deflector member carried by the primary deflector member; the secondary deflector member spaced from the primary deflector member; and the primary deflector member defining a plurality of openings under the secondary deflector member.

2. The heat deflector of claim 1, wherein the secondary deflector member is supported from the primary deflector by a plurality of legs.

3. The heat deflector of claim 2, wherein the legs define openings.

4. The heat deflector of claim 1, wherein the primary deflector member has a width that is greater than a width of the secondary deflector member.

5. The heat deflector of claim 1, further comprising a lower deflector structure carried below the primary deflector member.

6. The heat deflector of claim 5, wherein the lower deflector structure is conical.

7. The heat deflector of claim 6, wherein the lower deflector structure is a hexagonal cone.

8. The heat deflector of claim 5, wherein the lower deflector structure has a bottom wall.

9. The heat deflector of claim 8, wherein the bottom wall of the lower heat deflector structure is free of openings.

10. The heat deflector of claim 8, wherein the bottom wall of the lower heat deflector structure is flat.

11. The heat deflector of claim 5, wherein the primary deflector member defines a central opening above the lower deflector structure.

12. The deflector of claim 11, wherein the central opening has a width that is 75 to 95 percent a maximum width of the lower deflector structure.

13. The heat deflector of claim 1, wherein outer portions of the primary deflector member are tilted down away from the secondary deflector member.

14. The heat deflector of claim 1, further comprising a mounting tube connected to the primary deflector member.

15. The heat deflector of claim 14, further comprising support arms extending between the mounting tube and the primary heat deflector.

16. The heat deflector of claim 14, further comprising a handle and a locking fastener connected to the mounting tube.

17. The heat deflector of claim 14, further comprising a reinforcing member connected to the primary heat deflector around the mounting tube.

18. The heat deflector of claim 1, wherein the primary deflector member is circular and has four edge portions that are tilted down away from the secondary deflector member.

19. The heat deflector of claim 1, wherein the secondary deflector member is in the form of a shallow cone.

20. A fire pit comprising: a body that defines a fire box; an accessory post extending up from the body; and a heat deflector carried by the accessory post; the position of the heat deflector being adjustable with respect to the fire box both vertically and horizontally between a position above the fire box and a position that is not above the fire box.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary configuration of a heat deflector for a fire pit.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the heat deflector of FIG. 1.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the heat deflector of FIG. 1.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the heat deflector of FIG. 1.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the heat deflector of FIG. 1.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the heat deflector mounted to an accessory post and pivoted away from the fire pit.

[0018] FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 6 but showing the heat deflector adjusted to be over the fire box of the fire pit.

[0019] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a fire pit with the heat deflector and grill mounted on an accessory post.

[0020] FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 with the heat deflector moved above the fire box.

[0021] FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of an alternative configuration of a heat deflector.

[0022] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a fire pit with the heat deflector of FIG. 10 mounted on two accessory posts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] This description of exemplary embodiments is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematic form in the interest of clarity and conciseness. In the description, relative terms such as horizontal, vertical, up, down, top and bottom as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., horizontally, downwardly, upwardly, etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing figure under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and normally are not intended to require a particular orientation. Terms including inwardly versus outwardly, longitudinal versus lateral and the like are to be interpreted relative to one another or relative to an axis of elongation, or an axis or center of rotation, as appropriate. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as joined, connected, and interconnected, refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise.

[0024] The disclosure provides a heat deflector 2 that includes a primary deflector member 4 and a secondary defector member 6 that is supported in a position spaced above primary deflector member 4 by a plurality of legs 10 to define a secondary heat chamber 8. Secondary deflector member 6 is centered with respect to primary deflector member 4. Secondary deflector 6 can be flat or can include two crossing brakes 7 (such as a five-degree bend) that provide it with a slight depth (like a shallow cone) to increase its rigidity. Legs 10 define openings 11.

[0025] In the exemplary configuration depicted in the drawings, both deflector members are generally round and have a maximum width (or diameter). In other embodiments, these members can be provided in different shapes such as square, hexagonal, oval, or octagonal. The maximum width of primary deflector member 4 is greater than the maximum width of secondary deflector member 6.

[0026] A lower deflector 12 extends down from primary deflector member 4. Primary deflector member 4 defines an opening above lower deflector 12. The opening has a maximum width that is 75 to 95 percent a maximum width of lower deflector 12. Lower deflector 12 is generally conical in shape so that its sidewall is angled to reflect radiation from the fire outwardly towards the area surrounding the fire pit. In the exemplary configuration, lower deflector 12 includes a plurality of flat sidewall sections that fit together to form the frustum of a pyramid. In the drawings, six flat sidewall sections are used with a closed bottom wall 14 that truncates the generally conical shape to form a frustum of a hexagonal pyramid. In other embodiments, lower deflector 12 can be conical, can include a different number of sidewall sections, and can eliminate bottom wall 14 with its sidewall or sidewall sections joining at a point.

[0027] The above deflector components are made from stainless steel, aluminum, or other materials that reflect infrared radiation and stand up to high heats. They also can be made from these or other materials and further include reflective coatings to increase the amount of heat reflected.

[0028] Heat deflector 2 is carried above fire box 20 of a fire pit 22 on an accessory post 24 such as that used to hold a grill 26 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In FIG. 8, heat deflector 2 can be rotated out of the way while grill 26 is used. When the cooking is complete, grill 26 is either rotated out of the way or removed. Heat deflector 2 can then be rotated over fire box 20 to reflect heat while people are eating around fire pit 22.

[0029] Heat deflector 2 includes mounting tube 30 adapted to be slid over accessory post 24. A handle 32 and a locking fastener 34 are carried by mounting tube 30. Locking fastener 34 can be rotated to lock the position of mounting tube 30 with respect to accessory tube 30. Support arms 36 extend from mounting tube 30 to opposite portions of primary deflector member 4. Mounting tube 30 is connected to primary deflector member 4 at its outer edge with a reinforcing plate 38 supporting the connection. In the exemplary configuration, mounting tube 30, plate 38, and primary deflector member 4 are welded together. In other configurations, these elements can be connected with fasteners and/or interference fits.

[0030] Primary deflector member 4 defines a plurality of openings 40 outwardly of lower deflector 12 to allow a portion of the hot air flow from the fire to pass through primary deflector member 4 to chamber 8. As shown in FIG. 7, thirty-six openings 40 are arranged in sets of two openings (the inner being larger than the outer) arranged on spaced radii of primary deflector member 4. Each opening 40 is located under secondary deflector member 6. The raising air flow will be directed outwardly by secondary deflector member 6. The space between members 4 and 6 will become hot and radiate its own heat from deflector 2 at a level above deflector 12.

[0031] Primary deflector member 4 has four edge portions 50 that are bent downward up to five degrees from flat. Bending edge portions 50 downward increases the rigidity of primary deflector member 4 and helps to direct the hot air flow that is moving out across the outer edge of primary deflector member 4 somewhat downward as it leaves deflector 2. Each edge portion 50 is defined by a straight bend that extends between spaced points along the outer edge of primary deflector member 4. Edge portions 50 can be the same size and the respective bends are each spaced from one another.

[0032] An alternative embodiment of a heat deflector 102 is depicted in FIGS. 10 and 11. Heat deflector 102 has structural elements similar to heat deflector 2 and the same reference numbers are used to identify these structural elements. Although heat deflector 102 can be used on the same size fire pits as heat deflector 2, heat deflector 102 is primarily used with larger-diameter fire pits that have a plurality of accessory posts 24. In the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIGS. 10 and 11, the fire pit has two accessory posts 24. Heat deflector 102 thus includes two mounting tubes 30. Fire pit 22 of FIG. 11 has a thirty inch diameter and deflector 102 is sized to match.

[0033] Secondary deflector 6 can be flat or can include two crossing brakes such as breaks 7 described above.

[0034] Heat deflector 102 includes two mounting tubes 30 with two support arms 36 running between tubes 30 and being connected (welded or fasteners) at their midpoints to primary deflector member 4. Arms 36 provide support and rigidity to heat deflector 102.

[0035] Each mounting tube 30 includes a crank tab 31 connected to an inner side of tube 30. Crank tab 31 defines at least one opening that allows crank tab 31 to be connected (with a hook) to a chain or a wire of a crank (not shown) mounted above heat deflector 102. The crank can be used to raise or lower heat deflector 102 along accessory posts 24. The crank can be centered with respect to heat deflector 102 to provide even force to both sides of heat deflector 102.

[0036] As above, a reinforcing plate 38 is connected to primary deflector member 4 around tube 30. In the alternative embodiment of heat deflector 102, reinforcing plate 38 includes a tab 39 that extends downwardly over the outer edge of primary deflector member 4 to shield handle 32 from the heat of fire pit 22.

[0037] In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the above description and attached illustrations are examples and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described. Throughout the description and claims of this specification the words comprise and include as well as variations of those words, such as comprises, includes, comprising, and including are not intended to exclude additives, components, integers, or steps. Up, down, left, right, top, and bottom are in reference to the orientation of the drawings.