Portable gas cooking unit with foldable base

Abstract

A portable cooking unit is provided comprising a frame having an open configuration and a closed configuration. The frame comprises legs positioned in a rectangular configuration and sets of hinged and fixed horizontal braces connected between the legs at vertically spaced apart lower and upper locations. The hinged braces comprise first and second sections, both sections having an inner end and an outer end, a hinge joining the first and second sections at their respective inner ends, and pivot brackets at the outer ends connecting the first and second sections to the legs. When the frame is in the open configuration and the hinged braces are lifted at their hinges, the frame moves to the closed configuration. The cooking unit further comprises a firebox removably secured to tops of the legs of the frame when the frame is in the open configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable cooking unit, comprising:
 a frame having an open configuration and a closed configuration, the frame comprising:
 first, second, third, and fourth legs positioned in a rectangular configuration; 
 first and second horizontal braces connected between the first and second legs at vertically spaced apart lower and upper locations, respectively; 
 third and fourth horizontal braces connected between the third and fourth legs at the lower and upper locations, respectively; 
 fifth and sixth horizontal braces connected between the first and fourth legs at the lower and upper locations, respectively; 
 seventh and eighth horizontal braces connected between the second and third legs at the lower and upper locations, respectively; 
 each of the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth horizontal braces comprising:
 first and second sections, both sections having an inner end and an outer end; 
 a hinge joining the first and second sections at their respective inner ends; and 
 first and second pivot brackets at the outer ends of both of the first and second sections, the first and second pivot brackets connecting the first and second sections to the respective legs; 
 
 whereby, when the frame is in the open configuration and the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth horizontal braces are lifted at their respective hinges, the frame moves to the closed configuration; and 
   a firebox removably secured to tops of the first, second, third, and fourth legs of the frame when the frame is in the open configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The portable cooking unit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first panel secured to the first and second legs;   a second panel, opposing the first panel, secured to the third and fourth legs;   a first door secured with a hinge to the first leg, the first door having a closed position extending between the first leg and the fourth leg and having an open position resting alongside an outer surface of the first panel; and   a second door, opposing the first door, secured with a hinge to the third leg, the second door having a closed position extending between the third leg and the second leg and having an open position resting alongside an outer surface of the second panel.   
     
     
         3 . The portable cooking unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a fuel tank support, comprising:
 first and second spaced apart horizontal tank braces connected between the fifth and seventh horizontal braces at the lower location; and   third and fourth spaced apart horizontal tank braces connected between the first and second horizontal tank braces.   
     
     
         4 . The portable cooking unit of  claim 3 , wherein the third and fourth horizontal tank braces both comprise:
 first and second sections, both sections having an inner end and an outer end;   a hinge joining the first and second sections at their respective inner ends; and   first and second pivot brackets at the outer ends both of the first and second sections, the first and second pivot brackets connecting the first and second sections of the third and fourth horizontal tank braces to the first and second horizontal tank braces.   
     
     
         5 . The portable cooking unit of  claim 1 , wherein the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth horizontal braces each further comprises:
 a plate affixed to a top surface of the inner end of the first section, covering the hinge, and extending over a top surface of the inner end of the second section; and   a locking pin insertable through a hole in the plate and a hole in the second section;   whereby:
 when the locking pin is inserted through the holes in the plate and second section, the hinge is prevented from pivoting; and 
   when the locking pin is removed from the holes in the plate and second section, the hinge is allowed to pivot.   
     
     
         6 . The portable cooking unit of  claim 1 , wherein the firebox comprises:
 a housing; and   a gas burner within the housing.   
     
     
         7 . The portable cooking unit of  claim 6 , wherein the gas burner comprises a plurality of separate, individually controlled, concentric elements. 
     
     
         8 . The portable cooking unit of  claim 6 , wherein the gas burner comprises a spiral element. 
     
     
         9 . The portable cooking unit of  claim 6 , wherein the firebox further comprises four feet extending downward from a bottom of the housing and configured to be insertable into open tops of the first, second, third, and fourth legs of the base.