Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Cross References to Related Applications
This is a divisional application of pending prior
application Serial No. 300,290 filed on April 3, 1978.
Background of the Invention
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_ield of the Invention
This invention relates to small gas stoves for -
outdoorsmen, and in particular to such a stove which is
foldable into a compact, pocket-size package.
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Description of the Prior Art
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Various types of small stoves have been proposed and/or
marketed for use by campers and oth~ar outdoorsmen. However,
the known stoves of this type do not satisfy the need for a
stove which is extremely simple in construction, is easy
to assemble and use, and when not in use can be collapsed
and stored in a quite small pocket shape storage space. It
is the primary object of this invention to provide a light-
weight pocket si~e camp stove which fulfills this need.
Summary of the Invention
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The portable gas stove o this invention is basically
characterized by a burner support hub member; a plurality of
leg members which are connected to the hub member, each of ; -
which includes a lower foot portion restable on a support
surface and an upper pan supporting portion; and a gas burnin~
unit positionable on the support hub. The gas burner unit
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includes a burner head which extends upwardly from said hub
to a level below the level of the pan supporting portions of
the legs. A gas supply conduit is connected to the burner unit
and extends therefrom to a connector which is especially
adapted for connecting it to a can of gaseous fuel under
pressure of a type having a depressable member controlled
outlet valve built into the can. The connector includes
a valve means which is operable for moving the depressable
member a selected amount for both turning the gas flow on ~ -
and off and regulating its flow rate.
According to an aspect of the invention, the connector
comprises a first adapter member which is attachable to an
upper portion of a can of gaseous fuel of the type described.
Such member includes an upstanding, externally threaded
tubular stem that, when said member is installed on a can of
gaseous fuel, is generally concentrlc with the depressable
control member of the outlet valve built into the can and
such depressable control member projects upwardly into the
interior of the tubular stem. The connector also includes
a second member in the form o~ a rotable control cap having
internal threads matable with the external threads of the
stem. A third member is affixed to the end of the flexible
hose and includes a socket for engaging the depressable
member on the can. The rotatable control cap is rotatable
about the third member but is otherwise fixed in position
relative to the third member. As a result of this arrangement,
when the control cap is rotated in the direction causing it
to screw itself onto the threads on the stem of the first
member it causes the third member to be moved axially inwardly
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to contact and depress the depressable member. The control cap
is rotatable between an of~ position in which the third
member does not depress the depressable member enough to cause
any flow of gas out from the can to a fully open position
in which the depressable member is substantially fully de-
pressed and there is a maximum flow of gas out from the can.
According to another aspect of the invention, each
leg member is formed from a piece of wire and comprises a
first end portion which is insertable into a lower socket
formed for it in the hub member, and said leg member extends
downwardly from said end portion to form a lower foot portion,
and from said lower foot portion extends upwardly to form
an upper pan supporting portion, and then extends downwardly to
a second end portion which is received within an upper socket
formed for it in the hub member. The two end portions of each
wire leg member function as trunnions, so that the leg members
can be folded between a stowage position in which all of the
leg members are relatively together and an in use position
in which the leg members are spaced apart and extend sub-
stantially radially outwardly from the hub member.
Thus, in accordance with the present teachings,a portable gas stove is provided which comprises a gas
burner unit which includes a burner head and a gas supply
conduit having an outlet end which is connected to the
burner unit and an inlet end connected to gas control means -~
which are adapted for connection to a can of gaseous fuel
under pressure of a type having a protruding depressable
member controlled outlet valve built into the can, and in ~ -
which gas flows out of the can via an axial passageway in ;;-
the depressable member. The gas control means is operable
for moving the depressable member selectively variable amounts
for both turning the gas flow on and off and regulating its
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flow rate. The gas control means includes an inlet port
which is in alignment with the axial passageway in the
depressable member when the gas control means is connected
to the gaseous fuel can.
These and other features, objects and advantages
of the invention will be apparent from the preferred embodiment ~`
which is illustrated in the drawing and described below.
Brief Description of the Drawing
In the drawing like element designations refer to
like parts, and
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the
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invention in its operative condition;
FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the hub member and leg
assembly, showing the legs folded;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the stove, .
showing one leg and the burner head in elevation and the hub
member in vertical sention; and
FIG. 4 is a vertical section view of the control
valve and adapter assembly. ~:
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
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Referring to the drawing more specifically, the stove
is shown to comprise a hub member 10 to which a plurality of
leg members 12 are connected. Each 1.eg member 12 includes
a first end portion 14 which extends generally vertically and
i9 insertable lnto a lower socket formed for it in a portion
of the hub memker 10. The wire formi.ng the leg member 12
extends from end portion 1~ first laterally and then downwardly
to form a support foot 16, and from said support foot 16
extends upwardly and outwardly to the outward end of a gen-
erally horizontal pan support portion 18. FIG. 3 includes .~: .
a broken line showing of a pan 19. The wire then extends ~... :~:
from the inner end of the pan support portion 18 both inwardly
and downwardly to second end portion 20 which extends into
a socket formed for it in the upper portion of hub member
10. The two end portions 14, 20 and the two sockets therefore
are axially aligned, and serve to mount the leg member 1
for rotation between a folded position and an in use position. : . ~
~hen they are in their in use positions the leg members 12 : ~:
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are substantially evenly spaces apart and extend substantially
radially outwardly from the hub member 10. Hub member 10 may
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be formed to include a lock notch 22 which is in position
to engage to wire member. However this construction allows the
leg members 12 to be easily moved angularly in position out
from engagement with the notches. The wlre snaps into and
out from the notches. When in their folded condition, all
of the leg members are relatively close together, as shown
by FIG. 2. The hub member 10 is formed to include an upwardly
directed recess which receives a base portion 24 of a burner
unit 26. The recess also receives the inner portion of an
inlet stem 28. The burner unit 26 includes a burner head
30 which is quite conventional in construction and is adapted
to mix atmospheric air with a gaseous fuel to from a combust-
able mixture. ;
A flexible fuel supply hose 32 is attached to the outer
end of the inlet pipe 28. At its encl opposite inlet pipe 28the hose 32 is attached to a tubular member 34. A control
knob member 36 is mounted onto hose 32 for rotation in position
about member 34. However, members 3~L, 36 are fixed in
position axially. The member 34 includes an axial central
passage~ay which is a continuation of the passageway through
hose 32. The end part of the passageway forms a socket for
receiving the upper end portion 38 of a depressable control
member 38 which is a portion of an outlet valve mechanism
40 built into the fuel can 42. The depressable member 38
includes an a~ial passageway through which the gaseous fuel
flows when leaving the can 42. Opening and closing of this ~`
passageway is controlled by movement of the member 38. The
valve mechanism is constructed so that the flow rate of the
gaseous fuel out from can 42 is proportional to the amount of
depression of control member 38.
The stove includes an adapter member 44 having a base
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portion 46 which is preferably plug fitted onto the upper
portion of can 42. That is to say, it includes a lower tubular
neck portion which is sized io slip onto and frictionally engage
an upper portion of the can 42. Member 44 includes an upstanding
externally threaded tubular stem 48. When member 44 is posi-
tioned of can 42, the depressable control member 38 projects
upwardly part way into the interior of the stem 48. Control
cap 38 includes internal threads which are matable with the
external threads on stem 48. As will be appreciated, rotation
of the control stem 36 in the clockwise direction will cause
the control cap to move axially downwardly relative to stem
48. This causes member 34 to also move axially downwardly
and as it moves it depresses the valve member 38. The member
44 may be provided with indicia on its upper surface 50
for indicating an off position (in which member 38 is not
depressed at all) and a fully open position (in which member
38 is fully depressed).
The burner is prepared for use in the following manner.
The base assembly comprising the hub member 10 and the leg -
member 12 is removed from the storage pocket. The leg members -~ -
12 are swung apart until they snap into the notches 22. -
Then the several peices of the burner assembly are attached ~
together and the base portion of the burner assembly, and the -
inlet pipe 28, are set downwardly, into the recess formed in
hub member 10. Next, adapter member 44 is snap fitted onto
the top of the fuel can 42. Then, control cap is loosely joined
with the stem 48. The camp stove is now ready to be turned on
in the following manner. With the stove set up on a substan-
tially level surface, a lighted match is held next to the
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burner head 30 and the control cap 36 is turned clockwise
until the burner lights. The control cap 36 is then turned an
additional amount while watching the flame until a substan-
tial body of flame is present. Care must be taken to main-
tain the fuel can 42 spaces away from the flame and in an
upright position. The heat ran~es from simmer to about
sixteen hundred degrees Farenheit (1,600F) and may be re-
gulated by the control cap 36.
The stove is prepared for packing by first turning
the control cap 36 counterclockwise until the flame is
extinguished. Then, the stove is allowed to cool for about
five minutes or more. In the meantime, the control cap 36
is completely removed from stem 48 and the adapter member
44 is removed from the fuel can 42. Following sufficient
cooling, the burner members 24, 28, 30 are removed from the
support head 10. The legs 12 are then swung inwardly together
to their folded position. Then, this assembly of hub member
10 and legs 12, and the other composents 18, 24, 28, 30, 32,
36, 44 may be placed back into their storage packet.
The stove can be fueled by an eight fluid ounce
can of butane gas or the like of the type which is marketed
for use in filling cigarette lighters, etc.
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