Outdoor fireplace

Abstract

A secure, easy to use and aesthetically appealing outdoor fireplace includes a housing, fuel management component and burner assembly. The fuel management component is disposed alongside the burner assembly and facilitates safe and effective distribution of fuel and dispersion of heat. A roller assembly eases fuel tank transfer while providing stable support, and an outer decorative wall cooperates with the frame platform mounted on the roller assembly to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the fireplace. The fireplace maintains a low profile for stability and aesthetics while properly managing heat so as to avoid damaging supporting surfaces as well as components of the fireplace itself.

1 . An outdoor fireplace, comprising: 
 a frame having an upper and lower base and at least one outer wall so as to form a housing, said upper base having inner edges which define an opening therein;    a top member secured atop said frame upper base, said top member having inner and outer edges, said inner edges forming an opening therein which cooperates with said upper base opening;    a roller assembly mounted to said lower base;    a tank platform movably engaging said roller assembly for supporting a removable fuel supply;    a burner assembly having a fire pan secured to said frame upper base; and    at least one burner mounted to said burner assembly above said fire pan.    
   
   
       2 . The fireplace of  claim 1  further including a fuel supply securably positioned on said tank platform and means for delivering fuel from said fuel supply to said burner, said means comprising a regulator attached to said fuel supply, a hose attached at one end to said regulator and at another end to a fuel supply valve, said valve capable of directing fuel to an ignitor secured to said frame as well as to a mixing chamber secured via an inlet hose to said burner assembly.  
   
   
       3 . The fireplace of  claim 1  wherein said roller assembly allows said tank platform to extend substantially outside the length of said housing to an additional length at least one third of the length of said housing in the platform closed position.  
   
   
       4 . The fireplace of  claim 1  wherein said tank platform includes a substantially horizontal base and a substantially vertical support so as to form a substantially U-shaped tank support.  
   
   
       5 . The fireplace of  claim 4  wherein an outer wall is mounted to said frame wall and to said substantially vertical support of said tank platform.  
   
   
       6 . The fireplace of  claim 1  wherein said tank platform includes substantially horizontal structural members forming an opening therebetween for receiving a bottom portion of a fuel supply tank.  
   
   
       7 . The fireplace of  claim 1  wherein said tank platform has an open position and a closed position, said open position occurring when said platform is movably extended along said roller assembly to a position outside of said housing, and further wherein said fireplace has a length and a height, said length being increased when said platform is in said open position, said length to height ratio when said platform is in said open position being at least 3-to-1 so as to maintain a low profile while maintaining the ability to manageably interchange a fuel supply.  
   
   
       8 . The fireplace of  claim 1  wherein said tank platform has an open position and a closed position, said open position occurring when said platform is movably extended along said roller assembly to a position outside of said housing, and further wherein said fireplace has a length and a width, said length being increased when said platform is in said open position, said length to width ratio when said platform is in said open position being at least 3-to-1 so as to maintain a low profile while maintaining the ability to manageably interchange a fuel supply.  
   
   
       9 . The fireplace of  claim 1  wherein said fire pan is secured to said frame upper base so as to form a gap between said pan and said upper base for venting.  
   
   
       10 . The fireplace of  claim 1  wherein said top member lies in a top member plane and wherein said fire pan has an exterior upper wall extending at an angle from a plane normal to said top member plane, said fire pan upper wall angle being at least approximately 1 to approximately 5 degrees.  
   
   
       11 . The fireplace of  claim 1  wherein said top member lies in a top member plane and wherein said top member inner edge includes a first interior edge portion extending at an angle from a plane normal to said top member plane, said first interior edge portion angle being at least approximately 1 to approximately 5 degrees.  
   
   
       12 . The fireplace of  claim 11  wherein said top member inner edge has a second interior edge portion extending substantially in a direction which is coplanar with said top member plane and towards said top member outer edge, and further wherein said top member inner edge includes a third interior edge portion extending at an angle from a plane normal to said top member plane, said third interior edge portion angle being at least approximately 1 to approximately 15 degrees and further extending from said second interior edge in a direction which is opposite a direction of extension followed by said top member first interior edge portion.  
   
   
       13 . The fireplace of  claim 1  wherein said top member lies in a top member plane and wherein said fire pan has an exterior upper wall extending from an upper surface of said fire pan at an angle from a plane normal to said top member plane, and wherein said top member inner edge has at least a portion extending at an angle from a plane normal to said top member plane, said top member inner edge extending in a direction opposite to a direction of extension of said fire pan exterior upper wall from said fire pan upper surface.  
   
   
       14 . The fireplace of  claim 1  wherein said housing is at most 30 inches tall, and wherein said top member has an upper surface which extends at least approximately 0.8 inches above an upper surface of said fire pan.  
   
   
       15 . The fireplace of  claim 1  wherein said housing is substantially rectangular in cross-section.  
   
   
       16 . The fireplace of  claim 1  wherein said housing is substantially oval in cross-section.  
   
   
       17 . The fireplace of  claim 11  wherein said top member is hingeably secured to said frame.  
   
   
       18 . A method of constructing an outdoor fireplace, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a frame having an upper and lower base and at least one outer wall so as to form a housing, said upper base having inner edges which define an opening therein;    securing a top member atop said frame upper base, said top member having inner and outer edges, said inner edges forming an opening therein which cooperates with said upper base opening;    providing a roller assembly mounted to said lower base;    providing a tank platform movably engaging said roller assembly for supporting a removable fuel supply;    providing a burner assembly having a fire pan secured to said frame upper base; and    providing at least one burner mounted to said burner assembly above said fire pan.    
   
   
       19 . An outdoor fireplace, comprising: 
 a housing having a base, an interior and an exterior;    a fuel management component mounted to said housing, said fuel management component including a tank platform rollably mounted to said housing base, so as to allow said platform to move between the interior and exterior of said housing; and    a burner assembly mounted to said housing.    
   
   
       20 . An outdoor fireplace, comprising: 
 a housing having an upper and a lower base and at least one wall, said bases and said wall forming an interior and an exterior;    a fuel management component mounted to said housing, said fuel management component comprising: 
 a fuel tank situated upon said lower base and having a fuel exit location;  
 a regulator mounted to the fuel exit location of said fuel tank;  
 a hose mounted to said regulator at one end and to a valve at another end;  
 a control panel mounted to said housing wall, said control panel having an ignitor mounted thereto, said ignitor being in fluid communication with said valve;  
 a combustion chamber in fluid communication with said valve; and  
 an inlet hose connected at a first end to said combustion chamber; and  
 a burner assembly, comprising:  
 a fire pan secured to said housing upper base;  
 a burner base secured atop said fire pan; and  
   a burner top secured to said burner base so as to engageably support at least one burner, said burner being in fluid communication with a second end of said inlet hose.    
   
   
       21 . The fireplace of  claim 20  wherein said housing further includes a tank platform rollably mounted to said housing base, so as to allow said platform to move between the interior and exterior of said housing.