Outdoor appliance with retractable platform

Abstract

A base has an open top, an aperture coaxial with the open top of the base, and an actuator. The device includes a cover for the aperture that is moveable between a first closed position and a second open position in response to a first displacement of the actuator, and a platform moveable from a first lower position within the base to a second raised position proximate the tabletop in response to a second displacement of the actuator.

1 . A device comprising:
 a base having a top with a closable aperture therein;   an actuator that changes the closable aperture from a closed configuration to an open configuration in response to a first displacement of the actuator; and   a platform moveable from a first lower position within the base to a second raised position proximate the tabletop in response to a second, further displacement of the actuator.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the closable aperture further comprises a multi-leaved iris having a plurality of movable leaves wherein the leaves are closed over the open top of the base in the closed configuration and the leaves are displaced away from one another in the open configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the actuator comprises an upper guide member that receives a plurality of leaf followers, each one of the plurality of leaf followers affixed to a respective one of each of the plurality of leaves, and displaces the leaf followers within a plurality of tracks to displace the leaves between the open and closed configurations. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the actuator further comprises a lower guide member that receives at least one platform follower from the platform and displaces the at least one platform follower within at least one track to move the platform between the lower and upper positions in response to the second. further displacement of the actuator. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the upper guide member defines an upper guide track receiving at least one of the plurality of leaf followers, the upper guide track defining a first, translating section adjacent to a second, non-translating section, the translating section providing for displacement of the received at least one leaf follower and the non-translating section allowing rotation of the upper guide member without displacement of the received at least one leaf follower. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the lower guide member defines a lower guide track receiving the at least one platform follower attached to the platform, the lower guide track defining a first inclined section adjacent to a second, level section, the inclined section providing for elevation and lowering of the received platform follower and the level section allowing rotation of the lower guide member with no elevation change to the received platform follower. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the upper guide member is affixed to the lower guide member such that the translating section of the upper guide member is positioned atop the level section of the lower guide member and the non-translating section of the upper guide member is positioned atop the inclined section of the lower guide member. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , further comprising a platform guide member that receives the at least one platform follower from the platform and substantially restricts rotation of the platform. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the platform further comprises a gas burner. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising a drawer contained within the base for retaining an operational fuel container for the gas burner. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising a heat shield in the base that shields the fuel container from the gas burner. 
     
     
         13 . A device comprising:
 a tabletop upon a base and having an aperture into the base;   a cover for the aperture that changes between a first closed configuration and a second open configuration in response to a first displacement of a first upper guide; and   a platform moveable from a first lower position within the base to a second raised position proximate the tabletop in response to a second displacement of a second lower guide:   wherein the first and second guides are rigidly fixed together such that both displace together.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the cover comprises a multi-bladed iris having a plurality of blades, with a first follower attached to at least one of the blades and fitted into the first upper guide. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the platform further comprises a gas burner. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the first upper guide has a first section that displaces the first follower from an inner position, corresponding to the closed configuration of the cover, to an outer position, corresponding to the open configuration of the cover, and the first upper guide has a second section that allows the first upper guide to rotate but retains the first follower in the outer position. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , the second lower guide defines at least one track that receives a platform follower and elevates it to effect raising of the platform from the first lower position to the second raised position. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one track of the lower guide has a level portion that allows rotation of the lower guide without elevation of the platform and has a second inclined portion that elevates the platform in response to rotation of the lower guide.  20 - 22 . (canceled)