Foldable portable outdoor stove and method of using same

Abstract

An outdoor stove (a.k.a. “outdoor cooker”) is configured to be easily set up and taken down, has a minimum of parts, yet provides a secure cooking surface. It includes three wing assemblies commonly attached to a central hub, and folds conveniently for storage.

1 . A cooking device configured to rest atop a supporting surface and to accept combustible fuel from a fuel source and to facilitate combustion of said fuel in a combustion zone, such that a cooking container atop said cooking device is heated via said combustion, said device comprising:
 A) a central hub assembly;   B) first, second, and third wing support assemblies attached relative to said central hub assembly, each of said three wing support assemblies itself including:
 1) a support foot portion for supporting a portion of the weight of said device on said supporting surface; and 
 2) a stovetop portion for supporting a portion of the weight of said cooking container, 
   C) a rigid gas line assembly rigidly attached relative to said first wing support assemblies, said rigid gas line assembly including a downstream tip, an inlet opening, and an outlet opening proximate said downstream tip, said downstream tip being positioned proximate central hub assembly; and   D) a flexible gas line assembly in communication with said rigid gas line assembly and configured to accept said combustible fuel from said fuel source and to route said fuel to said rigid gas line assembly,   such that at least a portion of said fuel exiting said outlet opening of said rigid gas line assembly passes up proximate the location of said central hub, and can combust so as to heat said cooking device.   
     
     
         2 . The cooking device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said central hub assembly, said first one of said wing support assemblies, and said rigid gas line assembly are substantially rigidly attached together. 
     
     
         3 . The cooking device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the other two of said wing support assemblies are pivotably attached relative to said central hub assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The cooking device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said wing support assemblies are all substantially unitary in construction. 
     
     
         5 . The cooking device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said stovetop portions of all of said wing support assemblies are substantially straight. 
     
     
         6 . The cooking device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an upstream fitting of said flexible gas line assembly is configured to mate with a propane or other gas storage device such as a one pound propane cylinder or twenty pound propane tank. 
     
     
         7 . A cooking device configured to rest atop a supporting surface and to accept combustible fuel from a fuel source and to facilitate combustion of said fuel in a combustion zone, such that a cooking container atop said cooking device is heated via said combustion, said device comprising:
 A) a central hub assembly including a central tube having a central passageway intermediate a lower inlet opening and an upper outlet opening;   B) first, second, and third wing support assemblies attached relative to said central hub assembly, each of said three wing support assemblies itself including:
 1) a support foot portion for supporting a portion of the weight of said device on said supporting surface; and 
 2) a stovetop portion for supporting a portion of the weight of said cooking container, 
   C) a rigid gas line assembly rigidly attached relative to said first wing support assemblies, said rigid gas line assembly including a downstream tip, an inlet opening, and an outlet opening proximate said downstream tip, said downstream tip being positioned proximate said lower inlet opening of said central hub assembly; and   D) a flexible gas line assembly in communication with said rigid gas line assembly and configured to accept said combustible fuel from said fuel source and to route said fuel to said rigid gas line assembly,   such that at least a portion of said fuel exiting said outlet opening of said rigid gas line assembly passes through said central passageway of said central tube of said central hub, such that said at least a portion of said gas passes out of said upper outlet opening of said central hub, and can combust so as to heat said cooking device.   
     
     
         8 . The cooking device as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said central hub assembly, said first one of said wing support assemblies, and said rigid gas line assembly are substantially rigidly attached together. 
     
     
         9 . The cooking device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the other two of said wing support assemblies are pivotably attached relative to said central hub assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The cooking device as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said wing support assemblies are all substantially unitary in construction. 
     
     
         11 . The cooking device as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said stovetop portions of all of said wing support assemblies are substantially straight. 
     
     
         12 . The cooking device as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein an upstream fitting of said flexible gas line assembly is configured to mate with a propane or other gas storage device such as a one pound propane cylinder or twenty pound propane tank. 
     
     
         13 . A cooking device configured to rest atop a supporting surface and to accept combustible fuel from a fuel source and to facilitate combustion of said fuel in a combustion zone, such that a cooking container atop said cooking device is heated via said combustion, said device comprising:
 A) a central hub assembly including a central tube having a central passageway intermediate a lower inlet opening and an upper outlet opening, said central passageway being substantially vertical during use;   B) first, second, and third wing support assemblies attached relative to said central hub assembly, each of said three wing support assemblies itself including:
 1) a support foot portion for supporting a portion of the weight of said device on said supporting surface; and 
 2) a stovetop portion for supporting a portion of the weight of said cooking container, 
   C) a rigid gas line assembly rigidly attached relative to said first wing support assemblies, said rigid gas line assembly including a downstream tip, an inlet opening, and an outlet opening proximate said downstream tip, said downstream tip being positioned proximate said lower inlet opening of said central hub assembly; and   D) a flexible gas line assembly in communication with said rigid gas line assembly and configured to accept said combustible fuel from said fuel source and to route said fuel to said rigid gas line assembly,   such that at least a portion of said fuel exiting said outlet opening of said rigid gas line assembly passes through said central passageway of said central tube of said central hub, such that said at least a portion of said gas passes out of said upper outlet opening of said central hub, and can combust so as to heat said cooking device.   
     
     
         14 . The cooking device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said central hub assembly, said first one of said wing support assemblies, and said rigid gas line assembly are substantially rigidly attached together. 
     
     
         15 . The cooking device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the other two of said wing support assemblies are pivotably attached relative to said central hub assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The cooking device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said wing support assemblies are all substantially unitary in construction. 
     
     
         17 . The cooking device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said stovetop portions of all of said wing support assemblies are substantially straight. 
     
     
         18 . The cooking device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein an upstream fitting of said flexible gas line assembly is configured to mate with a propane or other gas storage device such as a one pound propane cylinder or twenty pound propane tank. 
     
     
         19 . The cooking device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said second and third wing support assemblies pivot relative to the central hub assembly about a pivoting axis which is preferably common to said bore axis of said central tube of said hub central hub assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The cooking device as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein an upstream fitting of said flexible gas line assembly is configured to mate with a propane or other gas storage device such as a one pound propane cylinder or twenty pound propane tank.