PORTABLE CAMPFIRE

Abstract

A portable campfire may include a base plate, a substantially vertical burner tube with substantially outward facing orifices, one or more legs secured to the base plate and supporting the portable campfire, and a fuel source. The orifices may be configured to emit fuel in substantially horizontal directions so that when ignited, a flame is produced that extends substantially horizontally from the burner tube. The portable campfire may include a leg lock plate to secure the legs against the base plate. One or more shields may be placed in the base plate to shield the flame from wind and/or to direct heat from the flame and/or provide a platform for a cooking vessel as desired. A method of using the portable campfire is disclosed.

Claims

1. A portable campfire apparatus, comprising: a base plate; a substantially vertical burner tube with substantially outward facing orifices, the orifices being configured to emit fuel in substantially horizontal directions; and a leg secured against the base plate and configured to support the base plate off a ground surface; and a fuel source configured to supply a combustible fuel to the burner tube.

2. The portable campfire apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a leg lock plate.

3. The portable campfire apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the leg comprises a leg tab and a shoulder; the leg tab comprises a tab neck and a tab head; the base plate comprises a leg tab slot; the leg tab slot comprises an entry hole and a neck hole; the entry hole has a first width; the neck hole has a second width; the shoulder has a third width; the tab neck has a fourth width; the tab head has a fifth width; the first width is greater than the second width; the third width is greater than the first width; the fifth width is greater than the fourth width and greater than the second width; the fifth width is less than the third width and less than the first width; and the fourth width is less than the second width.

4. The portable campfire apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more shields.

5. The portable campfire apparatus of claim 4, wherein: the one or more shields individually comprise a respective shield tab; and the base plate comprises one or more shield tab slots configured to receive a corresponding shield tab.

6. The portable campfire apparatus of claim 5, wherein: the one or more shields comprise three shields; the respective shield tabs of the one or more shields are individually inserted into a corresponding shield tab slot of the one or more shield tab slots; the three shields are arranged in a triangular shape over the base plate.

7. The portable campfire apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base plate comprises a central hole, the central hole being configured to receive the burner tube in a threaded connection.

8. The portable campfire apparatus of claim 1, wherein the leg further comprises a wrench notch.

9. The portable campfire apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fuel comprises a gaseous fuel.

10. The portable campfire apparatus of claim 1, wherein the burner tube is configured to form a threaded connection with a flare hose fitting at a lower end of the burner tube.

11. The portable campfire apparatus of claim 1, wherein the orifices are radially and vertically distributed around the burner tube.

12. A portable campfire apparatus, comprising a substantially vertical burner tube with outward facing orifices configured to emit fuel in one or more substantially horizontal directions.

13. The portable campfire apparatus of claim 12, further comprising one or more legs.

14. The portable campfire apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a leg lock plate.

15. The portable campfire apparatus of claim 12, further comprising one or more shields.

16. A method of using a portable campfire apparatus, comprising: inserting a respective leg tab into a corresponding leg tab slot on the base plate; placing a leg lock plate against the base plate, thereby securing the leg tab against the base plate; providing fuel through a gas supply line and into a burner tube, thereby causing the fuel to emit from one or more orifices on the burner tube, wherein the burner tube is substantially vertical and the fuel is emitted from the one or more orifices in substantially horizontal directions; igniting the fuel emitting from the one or more orifices to form a flame extending in a horizontal direction from the burner tube.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein: the corresponding leg tab slot comprises a neck hole and an entry hole; the respective leg tab comprises a leg tab neck and a leg tab head; inserting the respective leg tab into the corresponding leg tab slot on the base plate comprises: inserting the leg tab head into the entry hole; and sliding the respective leg tab in an outward direction until the leg tab neck is within the neck hole.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising staking the leg to a ground surface.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising attaching a gas supply line to a burner tube, wherein: the leg comprises a wrench notch; and attaching the gas supply line to the burner tube comprises using the wrench notch to tighten a flare hose fitting at a lower end of the burner tube.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising inserting the burner tube into a central hole of the base plate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1A is a simplified front perspective view illustrating a portable campfire in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 1B is a simplified overhead view illustrating the portable campfire depicted in FIG. 1A.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a simplified exploded front perspective view of the portable campfire depicted in FIG. 1A.

[0014] FIG. 3A is a simplified perspective view of a base plate of the portable campfire depicted in FIG. 1A.

[0015] FIG. 3B is a simplified overhead view of the base plate depicted in FIG. 3A.

[0016] FIG. 4A is a simplified perspective view of a leg lock plate of the portable campfire depicted in FIG. 1A.

[0017] FIG. 4B is a simplified overhead view of the leg lock plate depicted in FIG. 4A.

[0018] FIG. 5A is a simplified front view of a portable campfire shield in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 5B is a simplified side perspective view of the shield depicted in FIG. 5A.

[0020] FIG. 5C is a simplified alternate side perspective view of the shield depicted in FIG. 5A.

[0021] FIG. 6A is a simplified perspective bottom view of the portable campfire depicted in FIG. 1A.

[0022] FIG. 6B is a simplified front perspective view of the portable campfire depicted in FIG. 1A with the shields depicted in FIGS. 5A-5C in place.

[0023] FIG. 7 is a simplified illustration of an example operation of the portable campfire depicted in FIG. 1A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The following description provides specific details, such as material compositions, shapes, and sizes, in order to provide a thorough description of embodiments of the disclosure. However, a person of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced without employing these specific details.

[0025] Drawings presented herein are for illustrative purposes only, and are not meant to be actual views of any particular material, component, structure, device, or system. Variations from the shapes depicted in the drawings as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, embodiments described herein are not to be construed as being limited to the particular shapes as illustrated, but include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. For example, a region illustrated or described as box-shaped may have rough and/or nonlinear features, and a region illustrated or described as round may include some rough and/or linear features. Moreover, sharp angles that are illustrated may be rounded, and vice versa. The drawings are not necessarily to scale.

[0026] As used herein, the term configured refers to a size, shape, material composition, orientation, and arrangement of one or more of at least one structure and at least one apparatus facilitating operation of one or more of the structure and the apparatus in a pre-determined way.

[0027] As used herein, the terms vertical, longitudinal, horizontal, and lateral are in reference to a major plane of a structure and are not necessarily defined by earth's gravitational field. A horizontal or lateral direction is a direction that is substantially parallel to the major plane of the structure, while a vertical or longitudinal direction is a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the major plane of the structure. The major plane of the structure is defined by a surface of the structure having a relatively large area compared to other surfaces of the structure. With reference to the figures, a horizontal or lateral direction may be perpendicular to an indicated Z axis, and may be parallel to an indicated X axis and/or parallel to an indicated Y axis; and a vertical or longitudinal direction may be parallel to an indicated Z axis, may be perpendicular to an indicated X axis, and may be perpendicular to an indicated Y axis.

[0028] As used herein, features (e.g., regions, structures, devices) described as neighboring one another means and includes features of the disclosed identity (or identities) that are located most proximate (e.g., closest to) one another. Additional features (e.g., additional regions, additional structures, additional devices) not matching the disclosed identity (or identities) of the neighboring features may be disposed between the neighboring features. Put another way, the neighboring features may be positioned directly adjacent one another, such that no other feature intervenes between the neighboring features; or the neighboring features may be positioned indirectly adjacent one another, such that at least one feature having an identity other than that associated with at least one of the neighboring features is positioned between the neighboring features. Accordingly, features described as vertically neighboring one another means and includes features of the disclosed identity (or identities) that are located most vertically proximate (e.g., vertically closest to) one another. Moreover, features described as horizontally neighboring one another means and includes features of the disclosed identity (or identities) that are located most horizontally proximate (e.g., horizontally closest to) one another.

[0029] As used herein, spatially relative terms, such as beneath, below, lower, bottom, over, above, upper, top, front, rear, left, right, and the like, may be used for ease of description to describe one element's or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Unless otherwise specified, the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the materials in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if materials in the figures are inverted, elements described as below or beneath or under or on bottom of other elements or features would then be oriented above or on top of the other elements or features.

[0030] As used herein, the singular forms a, an, and the are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0031] As used herein, and/or includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0032] As used herein, the term substantially in reference to a given parameter, property, or condition means and includes to a degree that one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the given parameter, property, or condition is met with a degree of variance, such as within acceptable tolerances. By way of example, depending on the particular parameter, property, or condition that is substantially met, the parameter, property, or condition may be at least 90.0 percent met, at least 95.0 percent met, at least 99.0 percent met, at least 99.9 percent met, or even 100.0 percent met.

[0033] As used herein, about or approximately in reference to a numerical value for a particular parameter is inclusive of the numerical value and a degree of variance from the numerical value that one of ordinary skill in the art would understand is within acceptable tolerances for the particular parameter. For example, about or approximately in reference to a numerical value may include additional numerical values within a range of from 90.0 percent to 110.0 percent of the numerical value, such as within a range of from 95.0 percent to 105.0 percent of the numerical value, within a range of from 97.5 percent to 102.5 percent of the numerical value, within a range of from 99.0 percent to 101.0 percent of the numerical value, within a range of from 99.5 percent to 100.5 percent of the numerical value, or within a range of from 99.9 percent to 100.1 percent of the numerical value.

[0034] FIG. 1A is a simplified front perspective view illustrating a portable campfire 100 in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 1B is a simplified overhead view (e.g., along the Z-direction) illustrating the portable campfire 100 depicted in FIG. 1A. Embodiments of the portable campfire 100 may be configured to produce an open flame by releasing a gaseous fuel (e.g., propane, butane, natural gas) from one or more burner orifices 110 into a flame. The burner orifices 110 may be situated on a burner tube 120.

[0035] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the burner tube 120 may comprise a tubular, substantially hollow rigid element comprising a cylindrical wall. In other embodiments, the burner tube 120 may comprise other shapes, such as a conduit having a rectangular, oval, and/or square cross section. Some embodiments of the burner tube 120 comprise variable cross section sizes and/or shapes along the length (e.g., in the Z-direction) of the burner tube 120. Embodiments of the burner tube 120 may comprise threaded portions at externally facing surfaces at each end of the burner tube 120 where the burner cap 130 and flare hose fitting (or other types of fitting appropriate for a gas supply line 710) may individually be attached to the burner tube 120 during assembly of the portable campfire 100.

[0036] Further referring to FIG. 1A, the burner orifices 110 may be situated along the burner tube 120 in a spaced arrangement that may be configured to provide a desirable flow rate of a combustible fuel. The burner orifices 110 may provide fluid communication through the wall of the burner tube, such that gaseous fuel may enter through an end of the burner tube 120, substantially fill the inner volume of the burner tube 120, and exit the burner tube 120 by way of the one or more orifices 110. In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the burner tube 120 may be positioned on the portable campfire 100 in a substantially vertical orientation (e.g., substantially perpendicular to a surface upon which the portable campfire 100 rests and/or substantially parallel to a Z-direction). In embodiments, the term substantially vertical means a direction within approximately 10 degrees of the vertical direction (i.e., the Z-direction), such as within 7.5 degrees of the vertical direction, such as within 5 degrees of the vertical direction, such as within 2 degrees of the vertical direction, such as within 1 degree of the vertical direction.

[0037] The quantity, size(s), and placement(s) of the burner orifices 110 may be selected to produce a desired volumetric flow rate of fuel passing through the burner tube 120 and exiting through the burner orifices 110. The quantity, size(s), and placement(s) of the burner orifices 110 may further be selected to produce a desired flame size and/or shape and/or intensity resulting from the combustion of the fuel passing through the burner tube 120 and exiting through the burner orifices 110. The arrangement of burner orifices 110 may thus be tuned according to the desired flame characteristics and/or the anticipated fuel type and/or anticipated operating conditions (e.g., fuel pressure, ambient air pressure, ambient temperature, ambient wind speed) under which the portable campfire 100 may be operated.

[0038] In some embodiments, an upper end (e.g., in the Z-direction) of the burner tube 120 is blocked, such that substantially no fuel may enter or exit the burner tube 120 through the upper end. As shown in FIG. 1A, a burner cap 130 may be fitted to the upper end of the burner tube 120 during assembly to substantially block the passage of fuel at the upper end of the burner tube 120. In some embodiments, a lower end (e.g., in the Z-direction) of the burner tube 120 comprises an open end with a fastener configured to connect to a gas supply line 710 (FIG. 7). In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1A, the fastener comprises a flare hose fitting 140. According to various embodiments, the burner cap 130 and the flare hose fitting 140 comprise internally facing threads configured to engage the externally facing threads of the burner tube 120. When the flare hose fitting 140 is connected to a gas supply line, combustible fuel may pass through the flare hose fitting 140 and into the inner volume of the burner tube 120, substantially displacing the volume of air therein and exiting through the burner orifices 110 as additional fuel continues to feed into the burner tube 120 from the gas supply line.

[0039] Embodiments of the portable campfire 100 comprise a leg lock plate 150 above a base plate 160. The burner tube 120 may pass through central holes (152, 162) on each of the leg lock plate 150 and base plate 160, respectively. Embodiments of the portable campfire 100 comprise multiple legs 170. An upper tab 172 on each leg 170 may pass through tab holes 164 on the base plate 160, and the legs 170 may then be secured in place by placing the leg lock plate 150 against the base plate 160 and tabs of the legs 170. Thus situated, the leg lock plate 150 may exert outward (e.g., in horizontal directions) force on the leg tabs 172 against the base plate 160. The base plate 160 (more particularly, the upper surface thereof) may define the major plane of the portable campfire 100.

[0040] In embodiments, the legs 170 comprise wrench notches 174. The wrench notches 174 may comprise cut-outs in the material of the legs 170 having appropriate sizes and shapes to function as a wrench to tighten and/or loosen the flare hose fitting 140. In other words, at least part of the profile of a wrench notch 174 comprises a partial hexagonal shape (or other shape appropriate for the nut component of the flare hose fitting 140) so as to be used as a wrench on the flare hose fitting 140. In some embodiments, the legs 170 comprise stake cutouts 176. The stake cutouts 176 may comprise a hole passing through the leg 170, which may function to allow a stake to pass through a leg 170 and into the ground, which may thereby substantially secure the portable campfire 100 in place. In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the stake cutouts 176 comprise a T-shape. However, other embodiments of the present disclosure may comprise stake cutouts having various other shapes that may also function to allow a stake to substantially secure the portable campfire 100 in place.

[0041] FIG. 2 depicts a simplified exploded perspective view illustrating the portable campfire 100 depicted in FIGS. 1A and 1B. As shown in FIG. 2, embodiments of the portable campfire 100 may be disassembled into the burner tube 120, leg lock plate 150, base plate 160, and legs 170. As described above, each leg 170 of the embodiment depicted comprises an upper tab 172 at the upper end of each leg 170. As shown in FIG. 2, the legs 170 individually comprise a shoulder 177 defined by a transition in width to the upper tabs 172. As further shown in FIG. 2, the leg tabs 172 comprise a relatively narrow tab neck 178 vertically neighboring (e.g., in the Z-direction) the shoulder 177 and a relatively wide tab head 179 vertically neighboring (e.g., in the Z-direction) the tab neck 178. In the embodiment depicted, the shoulder 177 has a width substantially the same as the lower portion of the leg 170 (i.e., the portion of the leg 170 below the shoulder 177). The tab neck 178 may have a width that is less than the width of the shoulder 177. The tab head 179 may have a width that is less than the width of the shoulder 177 but greater than the width of the tab neck 178. As described below with respect to FIGS. 3A-4B, tab neck 178 and tab head 179 of the leg tabs 172 may secure the legs 170 in place relative to the base plate 160.

[0042] FIG. 3A depicts a simplified perspective view of a base plate 160 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure depicted in FIGS. 1A-2. FIG. 3B depicts a simplified overhead view (e.g., along the Z-direction) of the base plate 160 depicted in FIG. 3A. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, one embodiment of the base plate 160 comprises a central hole 162. Embodiments of the central hole 162 may comprise internally facing threads configured to engage with the externally facing threaded portions at the ends of the burner tube 120, so that the burner tube 120 can be attached to the base plate 160 by insertion into the central hole 162 and twisting to engage the respective threads.

[0043] In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the base plate 160 further comprises three (3) leg tab slots 164 and three (3) shield tab slots 166. In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the leg tab slots 164 individually comprise a keyhole profile (e.g., when viewed along the Z-direction) comprising a relatively narrow neck hole 168 and a relatively wide entry hole 169. The leg tabs 172 and leg tab slots 164 may be sized such that each leg tab neck 178 and leg tab head 179 can fit through its corresponding entry hole 169, whereas each leg tab neck 178 can fit within its corresponding neck hole 168 but the leg tab head 179 cannot, as the leg tab head 179 is wider than the neck hole 168. Moreover, each leg shoulder 177 is wider than both the neck hole 168 and the entry hole 169 of the leg tab slots 164.

[0044] To secure the legs 170 to the base plate 160, the leg tab head 179 may be inserted into the entry hole 169 until the base plate 160 is resting on the leg shoulder 177. Thereafter, the leg tab 172 may be slid outward (e.g., toward the nearest exterior perimeter portion of the base plate 160) until the leg tab neck 178 is within the neck hole 168. The leg tab 172 of the other legs 170 may likewise be inserted into each corresponding leg tab slot 164. The leg lock plate 150 may then be placed directly over the base plate 160, which may substantially cover the entry holes 169, effectively wedging the leg tabs 172 in the neck holes 168 against the base plate and securing the legs 170 to the base plate 160. As would be appreciated by a person of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure, other embodiments may comprise other mechanisms for securing legs to a portable campfire that still fall under the scope of this disclosure. In one nonlimiting example, legs may have a threaded portion that screws into a base plate. In another nonlimiting example, legs may slide into leg holes or sleeves and secure to a base plate by a friction fit. In alternate embodiments, other quantities of legs are utilized to support the portable campfire. In one nonlimiting example, one (1) or two (2) legs may be individually driven into the ground to support the portable campfire. In another nonlimiting example, four (4) or more legs are utilized.

[0045] FIG. 4A depicts a simplified perspective view of a leg lock plate 150 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure depicted in FIGS. 1A-3B. FIG. 4B depicts a simplified overhead view (e.g., along the Z-direction) of the leg lock plate 150 depicted in FIG. 4A. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, one embodiment of the leg lock plate 150 comprises a central hole 152. The central hole 152 may be appropriately sized for the burner tube 120 pass therethrough, so that the leg lock plate 150 may freely slide along the length of the burner tube 120.

[0046] Referring to FIGS. 5A-5C, some embodiments of the portable campfire 100 comprise multiple shields 510, each comprising a flat plate with a lower tab 520. The tabs 520 may be appropriately sized to enter the corresponding shield tab slots 166 on the base plate 160.

[0047] Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, each shield 510 may thus be individually attached to the base plate 160 by inserting its tab 520 into a corresponding tab slot 166. Once in place, the shields 150 may be substantially held to the base plate 169 primarily by gravity.

[0048] In one embodiment, the portable campfire 100 can connect to a fuel source and be ignited to produce a dispersed, campfire-like flame. Embodiments of the portable campfire 100 comprise one or more valves to regulate fuel pressure, control the flow of fuel into the burner tube 120, and/or tailor the flame's intensity as desired.

[0049] Referring to FIG. 7, in operation, the burner orifices 110 may be configured to emit combustible gaseous fuel in outward, substantially horizontal, directions. The resultant outward emission of flames may result in efficient, horizontal radiation of heat directed to people and/or objects around the portable campfire 100; in contrast to traditional campfires, which may direct more heat upwards. The substantially horizontal emission of fuel from the burner orifices 110 may result from the substantially vertical nature of the burner tube 120. In embodiments, the term substantially horizontal means a direction within approximately 10 degrees of a horizontal direction (i.e., the X-direction, the Y-direction, and/or combinations thereof), such as within 7.5 degrees of the horizontal direction, such as within 5 degrees of the horizontal direction, such as within 2 degrees of the horizontal direction, such as within 1 degree of the horizontal direction.

[0050] The shields 510 can substantially protect the flame from excessive wind and/or provide a surface to place pots or pans in which food may be cooked, as desired. The shields 510 can also focus and/or direct the flame's heat in one or more particular directions. The use of the shields 510 (e.g., the selection of how many and which shields 510 to put in place on the base plate 160) may be tailored for the conditions under which the portable campfire 100 is used.

[0051] For example, the portable campfire 100 may be used with no shields 510 in place if radiating heat in substantially all horizontal directions from the flame 730 is desired. Alternatively, if the portable campfire 100 is used in windy conditions, a single shield 510 may be placed on the upwind side (e.g., in a direction pointing into the source of the wind from the burner tube 120) of the base plate 160. In other circumstances, it may be desirable to direct and/or focus heat generated from the flame 730 into a relatively narrow space. In such cases, two (2) shields 510 may be placed on the portable campfire 100, leaving a smaller space where the flame 730 is not horizontally blocked by shields 510. Heat from the flame 730 may be radiated through this remaining open space to a greater degree than if fewer shields 510 were put in place. In other circumstances, it may be desirable to cook or heat foot or other objects over the flame 730. In such cases, all three (3) shields 510 may be placed on the base plate 160, with the top surfaces thereof forming a cooking platform, as depicted in FIG. 6B. As shown, the shields 510 may form a triangular shape (e.g., when viewed from above along the Z-direction). A pan or other cooking vessel may then be placed on top of the shields 510.

[0052] Although the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 5-6 comprise three (3) shields 510, other embodiments may comprise any other quantity of shields 510. For example, the present disclosure anticipates embodiments with no shield 510, one (1) shield 510, two (2) shields 510, four (4) shields 510, or greater than four (4) shields 510. In other embodiments, the shields 510 have different configurations, such as different mechanisms for connecting to the base plate or different shapes. In one alternative embodiment, shields comprise semi-cylindrical objects instead of flat objects.

[0053] Referring back to FIG. 7, FIG. 7 further depicts a gas supply line 710, which may be connected to a fuel source 720 (e.g., a propane tank or tank of other types of fuel) at one end and the flare hose fitting 140 at the other end. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 7, the gas supply line 710 comprises a propane hose. In cases where the gas supply line 710 is connected to a standard 20 lb. propane tank 720, embodiments of portable campfire 100 may provide approximately 10-15 hours of burn time.

[0054] To assemble a portable campfire 100, a user may insert the burner tube 120 into the base plate 160 and twist to engage the respective threads of the central hole 162 and the burner tube 120. Then, the user may connect the flare hose fitting 140 to the burner tube 120 below the base plate 160 on the same threaded portion (on which the central hole 162 is engaged) of the burner tube 120. The user may use the wrench notch 174 of a leg 170 to tighten the flare hose fitting 140 onto the burner tube 120. Thus tightened, the flare hose fitting 140 may securely hold the base plate 160 to the burner tube 120. The user may then secure a gas supply line 710 to the flare hose fitting 140, also by using the wrench notch 174 of a leg 170. The leg lock plate 150 may be slid onto the burner tube 120 by inserting the open end of the burner tube 120 (i.e., the end opposite to the end attached to the base plate 160 and flare hose fitting 140) into the central hole 152 and sliding the leg lock plate 150 down the length of the burner tube 120 until resting on the central plate 160. The burner cap 130 may then be attached to the open end of the burner tube 120 by engaging the internally facing threads of the burner cap 130 with the externally facing threads of the burner tube 120 and twisting the burner cap 130 relative to the burner tube 120. The user may use the wrench notch 174 of a leg 170 to tighten the burner cap 130 onto the burner tube 120.

[0055] The legs 170 may then be secured to the base plate by inserting the tabs 172 into the entry holes 169, sliding the tabs 172 into the neck holes 168, and placing the leg lock plate 150 over the base plate 160 to substantially prevent the tabs 172 from entering the tab entry holes 169 (i.e., substantially maintaining the tabs 172 within the respective neck holes 168). The fuel source may then be activated (e.g., by opening a valve) to allow fuel to flow through the gas supply line, into the burner tube 120, and out through the burner orifices 110. The fuel may then be ignited to create the flame 730. Any number of shields 510 may be placed on the base plate 160 (which placement may be made before or after ignition) as desired.

[0056] Later, when the user is done using the portable campfire 100, the flame 730 may be extinguished by stopping the flow of gas. The portable campfire 100 may then be disassembled by reversing the assembly order.

[0057] According to various embodiments, components of the portable campfire 100 may be manufactured from various materials that enable the portable campfire 100 to function as described herein and/or otherwise intended. In one embodiment, the components of the portable campfire 100 are manufactured from stainless steel and/or brass. Various examples of the portable campfire 100 may be lightweight and easy to transport. One embodiment of the portable campfire 100 weighs approximately 3 pounds, 10 ounces. In other various embodiments, the burner tube 120 may be manufactured from any material that may impart desirable characteristics that can result in the functionality described in this disclosure. For example, the burner tube 120 may be resistant to heat generated by a flame that forms from gas expelled from the one or more burner orifices 110. As another example, the burner tube 120 may be sufficiently strong to stand up to normal expected handling and use of the portable campfire 100, including repeated assembly and disassembly as described above.

[0058] Since the portable campfire 100 may allow users to control the intensity and/or size of the flame 730, embodiments of the present disclosure may be safer (i.e., less prone to cause wildfires) than traditional campfires. As such, the portable campfire 100 may be usable in areas where regulations and/or safeguards may otherwise prohibit campfires.

[0059] When not in use, the components of the portable campfire 100 may be disassembled for increased portability. In one embodiment, The disassembled components of the portable campfire 100 may be stored and/or transported in a storage bag (e.g., a canvas storage bag). In one embodiment, the storage bag comprises a heavy-duty canvas bag, and the disassembled components, when packed in the storage bag, may comprise a volume of approximately 1083.

[0060] While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and have been described in detail herein. However, the disclosure is not limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the following appended claims and their legal equivalents. For example, elements and features disclosed in relation to embodiments of the disclosure may be combined with elements and features disclosed in relation to other embodiments of the disclosure.