Collapsible Pyramid Fire Pit with Interlocking Trapezoidal Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing outdoor fire arrangements are cumbersome, difficult to control, and lack versatility, with portable options being heavy, clumsy, and lacking stability, while also requiring rocks or specific materials for construction, and failing to provide the warmth and enjoyment of a campfire or barbecue.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible and portable pyramid fire pit made of trapezoidal side plates with hooks and slots forming an inverted triangular cavity, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly, combined with a gas burner, spark arrestor, and grill, facilitating various fire types and uses, and made from lightweight fireproof materials for stability and ease of transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fire enclosures are made of fireproof material, then they provide adequate fire containment, but they become heavy and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The fire enclosure is divided into multiple modular panels that can be assembled together. Each panel is a separate component that can be easily manufactured and transported, then joined to form the complete enclosure structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The enclosure is designed to serve multiple functions: it contains fires, provides wind protection, supports cooking grates, and can be configured in different arrangements. The same basic structure adapts to various fire types and cooking needs.
2Stability of the object's composition
If traditional fire enclosures are made of heavy materials, then they provide stability, but they are difficult to move and transport
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the enclosure into lightweight modular panels, the structure achieves stability through its assembled configuration rather than heavy materials. The panels connect to form a stable geometric structure that is both portable and stable during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The enclosure transitions between a collapsed portable state for transport and an assembled stable state for use. The modular design allows easy assembly and disassembly, providing dynamic adaptability between transportation and operational conditions.
3Ease of manufacture
If campfires are built on open ground, then they are simple to establish, but they are easily blown out or scattered by wind
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure is assembled before the fire is lit, creating a protective structure in advance that prevents wind from affecting the fire. The windbreak function is established beforehand rather than reacting to wind conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The enclosure panels act as an intermediary barrier between the fire and the external environment. This intermediate structure protects the fire from wind while maintaining the simplicity of using a pre-fabricated solution rather than complex natural barrier arrangements.
4Weight of moving object
If portable barbecue pits are made of lighter-weight metal, then they are easier to move, but they lack stability and are clumsy to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The lighter-weight modular panels maintain stability when assembled into the complete enclosure structure. The segmented design allows the lightweight components to work together to create a stable overall system that is easy to transport and assemble.
Data Source
AI summary
A pyramid fire pit. The fire pit includes a first trapezoidal side plate having a first hook and a first slot defined in opposing upper corners, a second trapezoidal side plate having a second hook and a second slot defined in opposing upper corners, and a third trapezoidal side plate having a third hook and a third slot defined in opposing upper corners. The first hook locks into the second slot, the second hook locks into the third slot, and the third hook locks into the first slot so that the three side plates define between themselves an inverted triangular pyramid-shaped cavity in which a fire can be built.