Collapsible fire pit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fire pits are often too large for portable use, particularly for camping, as they require significant space and cannot be easily stored in vehicles, posing a challenge for outdoor enthusiasts who need a compact and portable solution for burning wood or propane.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible and portable fire pit design featuring telescoping/cascading cylindrical sections with pivoting legs that can be extended and locked into place, allowing for a voluminous area for burning materials while also collapsing for compact storage, utilizing a gas distribution array and igniter for efficient fuel use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a fire pit is made large enough to burn satisfactory levels of wood or propane, then the burning efficiency and warmth output improve, but the portability and storage capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The fire pit is divided into multiple telescoping cylindrical sections that can be separated and stored independently. The largest outer layer section contains one or more inner layer sections, allowing the structure to be segmented for compact storage while maintaining full size during operation
Solution Approach 2:
Inner layer sections are nested within the largest outer layer section, creating a compact storage configuration where smaller components fit inside larger ones. This nesting arrangement reduces the storage footprint dramatically while allowing the sections to extend outward to form the full-sized fire pit structure when deployed
2Volume of moving object
If a fire pit is made portable and collapsible, then the storage space requirement decreases, but the structural stability and fire containment capability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The fire pit employs dynamic legs that can pivot between a collapsed position for storage and an extended position for stable support during fire operation. The legs are designed to provide structural stability when extended, ensuring proper fire containment while allowing compact configuration when retracted
Solution Approach 2:
Guide tracks are pre-configured on the largest outer layer section to direct and constrain the movement of legs during extension and collapse. This preliminary structural guidance ensures that the legs extend to the correct position for stable fire containment and can be reliably collapsed for storage
3Area of stationary object
If conventional fire pits are used for camping, then adequate burning space is provided, but the vehicle storage capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fire pit structure is segmented into telescoping sections that can be collapsed to a fraction of their operational size, enabling storage in vehicle trunks or cargo areas alongside passengers and luggage, while still providing adequate burning area when deployed at the campsite
Solution Approach 2:
The nested configuration of inner layer sections within the outer layer section creates a compact storage form factor that fits easily in vehicle storage spaces, while the sections can be extended outward at the destination to restore the full burning area for outdoor fire use
Data Source
AI summary
A number of different sized circular sections are maneuvered and locked to create a fully extended voluminous area, and also a number of adjustable legs are used to support the different sized sections so a fire may be created inside the voluminous area.