Segmented Collapsible Fire Pit for Stable, Clean Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing outdoor grills are unstable during transport, dirty to set up and stow, and often require digging in cold weather for fire pits, posing challenges for outdoor enthusiasts and military personnel.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible, lightweight fire pit with a ring base and extendable rings made of fire-resistant material, featuring L-shaped channels and pins for easy assembly and disassembly, along with a cover and ash pan, designed for easy transport and use as a cooking grill or emergency stove.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional grill is used for outdoor cooking, then cooking functionality is provided, but the grill is unstable during transport and tends to fall over in the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The fire pit is divided into multiple detachable rings that can be separated for compact storage and reassembled for use. The base ring, middle ring, and top ring can be individually handled and stored in a compact configuration, then quickly reassembled at the destination to provide a stable cooking surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire pit structure transitions from a static, fixed grill to a dynamic, reconfigurable system. The rings can be collapsed into a compact bundle for transport and then expanded into a stable cooking structure, adapting between transport and cooking states.
2Ease of operation
If a traditional grill is set up and broken down, then cooking functionality is achieved, but the user and vehicle get filthy during the process
Solution Approach 1:
The fire pit incorporates a flexible, removable liner that contains all cooking debris, ash, and grime. This liner can be easily removed and discarded or washed, preventing contamination of the vehicle interior during setup, cooking, and cleanup operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful elements (ash, grease, food debris) are extracted from the main structure by using a removable liner and separate ash pan. These components can be easily removed and disposed of without requiring the user to handle dirty surfaces of the main fire pit structure, keeping the vehicle clean.
3Temperature
If a fire pit is used in freezing temperatures, then warmth is provided, but the user must dig holes in the ground in desolate areas
Solution Approach 1:
The fire pit is constructed from multiple stackable rings that can be quickly assembled without requiring ground preparation. The rings stack vertically to form a complete fire pit structure, eliminating the need to dig holes or prepare the ground surface, even in desolate or frozen areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire pit structure is pre-configured with all necessary components (rings, liner, ash pan, grill grate) that can be rapidly assembled in the field. The modular design allows for quick deployment without requiring preliminary ground preparation or assembly tools, enabling immediate use in freezing temperatures.
4Volume of moving object
If a collapsible fire pit is designed for easy transport, then vehicle storage is improved, but the structure may become unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The fire pit is segmented into multiple rings that collapse into a compact vertical stack for storage, minimizing volume in the vehicle. When assembled for use, the rings form a stable, wide-based structure that provides structural integrity and resistance to tipping.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire pit transitions from a compact vertical stack during transport to a wide, stable structure during use. The rings expand outward in the horizontal dimension when assembled, creating a stable cooking surface while maintaining compact vertical storage dimensions.
Data Source
AI summary
A collapsible firepit that is easily transportable. The collapsible fire pit is made of a ring base that has a plurality of rings that extend outward and upward from the ring base. The ring base has an outer wall that extends upward from the circumference of the base. The plurality of rings have outer walls that measure at least three inches in height, and each ring has a circumference that is larger than an outer wall in which it is secured on. Each of the plurality of rings is attached to each other via the L-shaped channels and the pins. The pins are inserted within the L-shaped channels and the movement of the pins while in the L-shaped channels direct the position in which the collapsible fire pit will rest. The collapsible fire pit can be in an extended position and in a collapsed position.