Fire Pit Lid Panel Storage Pocket for Safe Table Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multi-function convertible fire pits lack safe and convenient storage solutions for their lid panels, posing a fire safety hazard, especially in households with children.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a door panel that can be received by a pocket or channel within the fire pit device, allowing for secure storage of the lid panel, which can be slid into a receiving pocket or channel, and includes a support frame with a hinged door and a fuel distribution system with a heater, enabling safe conversion between a table and fire pit functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lid panel is left unattended near the fire bowl, then the fire pit can be quickly converted between table and fire pit modes, but fire safety is compromised especially in households with children
Solution Approach 1:
The lid panel is extracted from the immediate vicinity of the fire bowl and placed in a dedicated storage pocket or channel that is physically separated from the fire source. This extraction removes the hazardous element (lid panel) from the dangerous zone (near the fire bowl) while maintaining quick access through the integrated pocket design.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid panel is nested within a storage pocket or channel that is integrated into the fire pit structure itself. The pocket is positioned to receive and securely hold the lid panel when not in use, effectively nesting the lid within the fire pit's own structure rather than leaving it externally where it could pose a hazard.
2Ease of operation
If no dedicated storage solution is provided for the lid panel, then the device structure remains simple, but the lid panel cannot be stored in a safe and convenient manner
Solution Approach 1:
The storage pocket or channel serves multiple functions: it provides safe storage for the lid panel, maintains the structural integrity of the fire pit, and can be designed to facilitate quick conversion between table and fire pit modes. This multi-functionality adds storage capability without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage pocket is nested within the existing fire pit structure, utilizing available space rather than adding external components. The pocket is integrated into the frame or support structure, allowing the lid panel to be stored within the confines of the fire pit's own geometry, thereby minimizing additional structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-use convertible furniture piece, having a table top including a channel, the channel configured to receive a lid panel therethrough, a support frame connected to the table top, a door operably connected to the frame, the door including at least one receiving pocket, the lid panel configured to connect to the table top and the door, and wherein the door is hinged to the support frame and a portion of the lid panel is received into the receiving pocket. The multi-use convertible furniture piece is also configured to receive and store the lid panel on at least one portion of the support frame.