Modular Fire Pit Assembly for Portable Outdoor Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fire pits lack a modular and portable design that allows for easy assembly, disassembly, and relocation while maintaining a visible flame, as existing designs often require disassembly for transportation and storage, compromising their aesthetic and functional appeal.
Innovation Solution
A fire pit design featuring a base assembly with interlocking trapezoidal or rectangular panels and a burner assembly that can be easily assembled and disassembled, allowing for compact storage and transportation, with retainers and locators ensuring secure retention of components during operation and relocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the fire pit is designed as a single integrated unit, then structural stability is improved, but portability and ease of storage deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The fire pit is divided into separate modular components including a base assembly with multiple panels and a burner assembly that can be detached. This segmentation allows the fire pit to be disassembled for easy transportation and storage while maintaining structural stability when assembled through interlocking mechanisms and retainers.
2Ease of operation
If the fire pit is designed to be easily disassembled, then portability is improved, but assembly complexity and security of components deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Locator protrusions are pre-formed on panels and corresponding recesses are pre-formed on retainers during manufacturing. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex alignment procedures during assembly, as the locators automatically guide proper positioning when components are joined.
Solution Approach 2:
Retainers serve as intermediary components that facilitate the connection between panels and the burner assembly. These retainers incorporate locators and recesses that simplify the joining process, making assembly straightforward while ensuring secure component retention.
3Reliability
If the fire pit uses traditional fastening methods, then component security is improved, but assembly time and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Retainers act as intermediary components that provide secure connection between panels and the burner assembly without requiring traditional fastening methods. The retainers engage with locators on the panels, creating a reliable connection that is both secure and quick to assemble.
Solution Approach 2:
The locator-protrusion and recess configurations are pre-designed and pre-formed on the components during manufacturing. This preliminary action ensures that when components are brought together, they automatically align and secure quickly without requiring additional fastening steps or tools.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable fire pit includes a base and a burner assembly. The burner assembly includes a top plate and a gas burner fixed to and supported by the top plate. The top plate is supported by the base. The burner assembly is supported on the base by the top plate. The top plate is removably engaged with the base. A top surface of the portable fire pit is defined at least in part by the top plate. The gas burner is positioned to generate a flame above the top surface.