Portable fire pit system

Abstract

The present invention provides a portable fire pit to be used in conjunction with particularly sized fuel blocks, whereby these fuel blocks are manually positioned in a square-shaped configuration around ventilation holds provided through the base of the fire pit. Alignment flanges on the base provide a positioning and alignment brace structure for the fuel blocks, which are fitted into an abutting relationship with the alignment flanges and one another on the base. The ventilation holes are formed to align with an inner chimney formed by the positioning of the fuel blocks. This chimney is formed over the ventilation holes to allow the fire to burn from the chimney outwardly through the blocks and thereby provide an efficient burning of the fuel.

1 . A portable fire pit system comprising:
 a plurality of fuel blocks, each having a length and a width; and   a portable fire pit having a plate with a central area, a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the plate, a first alignment flange extending upwardly from the plate, and a second alignment flange extending upwardly from the plate.   
     
     
         2 . The portable fire pit system of  claim 1 , wherein the first alignment flange extends generally parallel to the second alignment flange. 
     
     
         3 . The portable fire pit system of  claim 2 , wherein the first alignment flange is spaced generally at a distance from the second alignment flange, and wherein the distance is generally equal to the length plus the width. 
     
     
         4 . The portable fire pit system of  claim 3 , wherein the plate includes a plurality of ventilation apertures disposed generally intermediate the first alignment flange and the second alignment flange. 
     
     
         5 . The portable fire pit system of  claim 4 , further comprising a third alignment flange extending upwardly from the plate and a fourth alignment flange extending upwardly from the plate, wherein the third alignment flange extends generally parallel to the fourth alignment flange, and wherein the third alignment flange extends generally orthogonally to the first alignment flange. 
     
     
         6 . The portable fire pit system of  claim 5 , wherein the third alignment flange is spaced at the distance from the fourth alignment flange. 
     
     
         7 . The portable fire pit system of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of fuel blocks are comprised of compressed sawdust. 
     
     
         8 . A portable fire pit system comprising:
 a plurality of hexahedron shaped fuel blocks;   a base having a plate with a general central area, a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the plate, and a plurality of alignment flanges extending upwardly from the plate and spaced apart from the central area for abutment with at least one of the plurality of fuel blocks;   a spark guard having a plurality of openings disposed therein and configured to engage with the base;   a lid having a plurality of openings disposed therein and formed to cover a portion of the spark guard; and   a plurality of ventilation apertures defined by the plate in the central area.   
     
     
         9 . The portable fire pit of  claim 8 , further comprising a hook device configured to removably secure the lid, spark guard, and base together. 
     
     
         10 . The portable fire pit of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of alignment flanges define a fuel containment area for receiving the plurality of fuel blocks therein. 
     
     
         11 . The portable fire pit of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of fuel blocks define an air shaft therebetween when the plurality of fuel blocks are received in the fuel containment area. 
     
     
         12 . The portable fire pit of  claim 11  wherein the air shaft is aligned with the plurality of ventilation apertures to enable air flow through the chimney. 
     
     
         13 . The portable fire pit of  claim 12 , wherein the alignment flanges are fin shaped. 
     
     
         14 . The portable fire pit of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of alignment flanges extends at a 90 degree angle from the plate. 
     
     
         15 . The portable fire pit of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a peg extending from the plate;   a positioning rod having a first end engageable with the peg and a second end; and   a grill engageable with the second end of the positioning rod for positioning the grill over the plate.   
     
     
         16 . A method for burning a plurality of fuel blocks comprising the steps of:
 forming each of the plurality of fuel blocks to be generally similar in size having a similar length and a similar width;   arranging the plurality of blocks on a raised plate, wherein the blocks are arranged to define an air shaft therebetween;   igniting at least one of the plurality of blocks in an area adjacent to the air shaft; and   allowing air to flow through the plate and through the air shaft to supply air to the ignited area.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of:
 forming each of the plurality of fuel blocks to include an end surface and a side surface; and   arranging the plurality of fuel blocks in a series, whereby the side surface of each of the plurality of fuel blocks abuts the end surface of each successive one of the plurality of fuel blocks.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the air shaft is defined by a portion of each of the side surfaces of the plurality of fuel blocks. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the steps of:
 disposing a first set of alignment flanges on the plate, wherein each alignment flange in the first set is located a distance apart, and wherein the distance is generally equal to the length plus the width; and   disposing a second set of alignment flanges on the plate, wherein each alignment flange in the second set is located the distance apart.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of compressing an amount of sawdust to form each of the plurality of fuel blocks.