GB2168474A - Firebasket - Google Patents

Abstract

A firebasket has a first pair of opposite sides (2); a second pair of opposite sides (1); and one or more floor members (3), each side (1,2) having a pair of slotted end portions (11, 12), the slots (23) in the end portions of the first pair of sides (2) opening to the top of the basket and the slots (13) in the end portions of the second pair (1) opening to the bottom of the basket such that the slotted end portions of sides can be engaged with one another to assemble the basket by sliding together. If the fire basket is for a barbecue then only three side members may be provided. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Firebasket The present invention relates to a firebasket for containing coal, charcoal, coke, logs or the like for burning and, more particularly, relates to a firebasket which can be assembled from a plurality of component parts.

Open hearth domestic fires or barbecues require some means for retaining the combustible material, usually coal, smokeless fuel or logs, or charcoal respectively to contain the fire. In the case of an open hearth domestic fire, this can be provided by a simple tray, by means of a grate below which there may be, for example, a sunken tray, or simply by means of a firebasket. In the case of a barbecue which is portable for ease of use, a cast iron or similar bowl-like base is used to contain the charcoal and a grill or grills are located above the base for cooking of food.

Firebaskets are generally made of iron cast or welded into a fixed form which provides both sides and bottom grate members integrally with one another. Such firebaskets may be provided in a large number of sizes and shapes and, indeed, have to be provided in a large number of different sizes in order to enable a firebasket of appropriate size to fit any given hearth. Such fire baskets are also heavy, being constructed as an integral form, and can be extremely difficult to move and are bulky to store when not required, for example, in the summer months.

According to the present invention a firebasket comprises first and second opposite sides; a third side; and one or more floor members, each side having a pair of slotted end portions, the slots in the end portions of the first and second sides opening either to the top or bottom of the basket and the slots in the end portions of the third side opening to the bottom or top respectively of the basket such that the slotted end portions of adjacent sides can be engaged with one another to assemble the basket by sliding together.

Preferably, when the firebasket is for use in an open hearth fire, a fourth side is provided opposite the third side, the fourth side having a pair of slotted end portions opening to the bottom or top respectively.

Preferably, the slotted end portions of each side each include a leg extending downwards from a major face portion of the side, the side or sides having the upwardly opening slots having the slots formed in the upper portion of the leg and the side or sides having slots opening downwards having the slots formed in the lower portion of the legs. However, it will be appreciated, that the terms "upper", "lower", "top", "bottom" etc. are relative terms only and it is envisaged that all the sides might be identical, one pair of opposite sides merely being rotated over 1800 relative to the other pair of sides in order to enable engagement between the respective slotted end portions. This would enable the number of components to be reduced to two different types, simply sides and floor members.

When the firebasket is for a barbecue it will preferably include only three side members and the floor member or members, for supporting the charcoal, will include means for holding the relative positions of the first and second side members at the open side. The barbeque may also include a tray into the corners of which the lower ends of the end portions of the sides fit, or alternatively the floor member or members themselves may be a tray or trays in which a grid or like member may sit to support the charcoal. The first and second sides may have a plurality of horizontal, inwardly directed rails to support a grill or grills at selected positions for the food to be placed on.

The invention also includes a side for a firebasket, as described above.

However, preferably, in order to provide a raised appearance for the basket, locating the floor member or members above the hearth, two types of sides will be used, a first type having slots opening upwardly and a second type having slots opening downwardly. One of the two different types may be manufactured in different sizes so that different size firebaskets can be manufactured from a number of common components, only one pair of sides having to be different between firebaskets of different size and the number of floor members being increased or decreased accordingly.

Preferably, the floor members have lugs which fit into apertures or slots in the opposite sides of one pair only, to support the floor member or floor members above the hearth.

The floor members may have hook portions projecting from the lugs to hook over rail portions of the sides, to support the floor member or members above the half and hold the opposite sides in their relative positions.

A firebasket constructed in accordance with the present invention has advantages in that each of the component parts is essentially planar, that is to say has a significant extension in only two dimensions, thus simplifying moulds if the firebasket members are to be manufactured in a casting process. The modular nature of the firebasket also simplifies replacement of worn out components, enables common parts to be used for firebaskets of different sizes, and enables the fire basket to be dismantled for removal and for storage.

The slotted form of the end portions enables the firebasket to be assembled quickly and simply without the need for additional fastenings of any sort.

Three examples of firebaskets constructed in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates, in an exploded perspective view, a first firebasket; Figure 2 illustrates, in perspective, an assembled second basket; and, Figure 3 illustrates, again in perspective, a third, assembled firebasket.

The firebasket shown in Figure 1 has a first pair of sides 1, a second pair of sides 2 and a pair of floor members 3. The sides and base members are formed from cast iron and each includes a plurality of generally parallel ribs 4 separated by respective elongate apertures 5, the ribs providing stiffness to the sides and floor members and the apertures allowing air to the combustion process in use.

The series of ribs 4 each extend between pairs of substantially parallel ribs 6.

The pair of sides 1 have end portions 11 which, at their lower parts provide legs 12, each of the legs being bifurcated by a slot 13 which extends from the foot of the leg over a distance slightly over half the height of the end portion 11.

The pair of sides 2 each have corresponding end portions 21, each of which again provides at its lower part a leg 22, but in this case the leg 22 is not slotted, rather a slot 23 being provided from the top of each end portion 21 and again extending for just over half the height of the end portion 21.

The end portions 11,21 have end ribs 14,24 of greater thickness to prevent distortion during the casting process.

It can be seen from the Figures how the respective pairs of sides 1,2 engage at their end portions 11,21 by means of slots 13,23.

As well as providing for the ingress of air for combustion, selected ones of the apertures 5 in the sides 2, labelled 5', extend further towards the bottom of the side so as to receive a respective one of a number of lugs 7, each lug being formed at one end of one of the rails 6 of the floor members 3.

After assembly of the sides of the firebasket, the lugs 7 at one side of each floor member can be inserted in the appropriate aperture 5', the lugs 7 at the other side then being slid down the respective apertures 5' until the floor member is securely located with its lugs 7 resting at the bottom of the associated apertures 5'.

The modular nature of the firebasket and its adaption to form firebaskets of different sizes will readily be appreciated from a study of Figures 2 and 3 wherein it can be seen that the sides 1 are identical to the sides 1 shown in Figure 1 as is the or each floor member 3, there being but a single floor member 3 in Figure 2 and three floor members 3 in Figure 3, the change in size of the firebasket being provided solely by the different sizes of the sides 2' and 2", the side 2' being sized so as to enable a single floor member 3 to substantially fill the space between the sides 1, 2' and the sides 2' being sized so as to enable location of three floor members 3.

It will be seen therefore that common components 1 and 3 can be used for firebaskets of different sizes, the only requirement being to produce sides 2, 2', 2" of different sizes to accomodate different numbers of floor members.

Although not shown, it will be appreciated that each of the sides could be substantially rectangular rather than being "U"-shaped, providing support for the floor members substantially centrally, but in which case, a generally square firebasket could be provided simply by connecting together four sides of the same size by inverting one pair of sides relative to the other pair. In such a case, only two components would require to be manufactured, all the sides being the same, but used in different orientations.

Claims (11)

1. A firebasket comprising first and second opposite sides; a third side; and one or more floor members, each side having a pair of slotted end portions, the slots in the end portions of the first and second sides opening either to the top or bottom of the basket and the slots in the end portions of the third side opening to the bottom or top respectively of the basket such that the slotted end portions of adjacent sides can be engaged with one another to assembie the basket by sliding together.

2. A firebasket according to claim 1, wherein a fourth side is provided opposite the third side, the fourth side having a pair of slotted end portions opening to the bottom or top respectively.

3. A firebasket according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each of the slotted end portions includes a leg extending downwards from a major face portion of the side, the sides having the upwardly opening slots having the slots formed in the upper portion of the leg and the sides having slots opening downwards having the slots formed in the lower portion of the legs.

4. A firebasket according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the or each floor member has lugs which fit into apertures or slots in the opposite sides of one pair only, to support the floor member or members above the half.

5. A firebasket according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the or each floor member includes means for holding the relative positions of the first and second side members at the open side.

6. A firebasket according to claim 5, wherein the or each floor member has lugs which fit into apertures or slots in the sides of one pair of opposite sides and hook portions projecting from the lugs to hook over rail portions of the sides, to support the floor mem ber or members above the half and hold the opposite sides in their relative positions.

7. A firebasket according to any of the preceeding claims, in which the the first and second sides have a plurality of horizontal, inwardly directed rails to support a grill or grills at selected positions.

8. A firebasket according to any of the preceeding claims, wherein the floor member or members comprise a tray or trays.

9. A firebasket substantially as described with reference to any of the examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

10. A side member of a firebasket, as described in any of the preceding claims.

11. A barbecue having a firebasket according to any of the claims 1 to 9.