Portable camp stove

Abstract

A portable camp stove is provided that is easy to disassemble and collapses to a reduced size for transport, utilizes a recycled wash tube for the stove body, includes a detachable, weighted pedestal base that allows the stove to be free standing and balanced, even when an elongate chimney is attached to an upper region of the stove, and allows heat dissipation through a bottom region of the stove for warming shoes and feet.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A portable camp stove comprising: 
 a stove body comprising a recycled, metal washing machine tub including a lower surface and an opening on a top side thereof;    a lid secured to said top side of said tub and generally enclosing said opening when said lid is in a closed position;    a chimney having a first end region secured to said lid and a second end region positioned a predetermined height above said lid, said chimney being adapted for venting smoke from said stove body through said chimney to said predetermined height above said lid;    a base secured to said lower surface of the stove body, said base comprising a vertical base element secured at a first end to said stove body and at a second end to a base plate, said vertical base element having an outer dimension at least fifty percent smaller than an outer dimension of said stove body such that said base defines a shoe warming region positioned below said stove body,    and wherein said base plate, said vertical base element, and said chimney are each removable from said stove body such that said stove is reduced in size by at least fifty percent upon such removal.    
     
     
         2 . The stove of  claim 1  wherein said machine tub includes a plurality of apertures disposed radially around a side wall of said tub wherein said apertures are adapted to disperse heat radially outwardly from said stove body through said plurality of apertures.  
     
     
         3 . The stove of  claim 1  wherein said chimney has a height above said lid of at least four feet.  
     
     
         4 . The stove of  claim 1  wherein said chimney includes a damper.  
     
     
         5 . The stove of  claim 1  further comprising a warming stand secured to and positioned above said lid.  
     
     
         6 . The stove of  claim 1  wherein said base is manufactured of a weight sufficient to balance and stabilize said stove such that said stove is free standing.  
     
     
         7 . The stove of  claim 1  wherein said lid includes a rear portion secured to said washing tub and a front portion hingedly secured to said rear portion.  
     
     
         8 . The stove of  claim 1  wherein said base further comprises a support plate secured to said lower surface of the stove body, a nut secured to said support plate, a nut secured to said base plate, and an all-thread fastener that is secured within said nut on said support plate, through a hollow interior of said vertical base element, and within said nut on said base plate when the stove is assembled.  
     
     
         9 . The stove of  claim 8  wherein said all-thread fastener includes a length less than a length of said vertical base element such that when said fastener is tightened within said nuts, said fastener pulls said support plate and said base plate into frictional engagement with said vertical base element.  
     
     
         10 . The stove of  claim 8  wherein said all-thread fasteners, said base plate, and said vertical base element are each manufactured of a size to fit within an interior of said stove body during transport thereof.  
     
     
         11 . A heating unit comprising: 
 a heating unit body comprising a recycled, metal washing machine tub including a lower surface and an opening on a top side thereof;    a lid secured to said top side of said tub and generally enclosing said opening when said lid is in a closed position;    a chimney having a first end region secured to said lid and a second end region positioned a predetermined height above said lid, said chimney being adapted for venting smoke from said heating unit body through said chimney to said predetermined height above said lid;    a base secured to said lower surface of the heating unit body, said base comprising a support place secured to said lower surface of the heating unit body, a nut secured to said support plate, an all-thread fastener secured at a first end within said nut secured to said support plate, a vertical base element having a hollow interior, and a base plate having a nut secured thereto,    wherein said all-thread fastener extends through said hollow interior of said vertical base element and wherein a second end of said all-thread fastener is secured within said nut secured to said base plate when said stove is assembled.    
     
     
         12 . The heating unit of  claim 11  wherein said vertical base element has an outer dimension smaller than an outer dimension of said heating unit body such that said base defines a shoe warming region positioned below said heating unit body.  
     
     
         13 . The heating unit of  claim 11  wherein said base plate, said vertical base element, and said chimney are each removable from said heating unit body such that said heating unit is reduced in size by at least fifty percent upon such removal.  
     
     
         14 . The heating unit of  claim 11  wherein said all-thread fastener includes a length less than a length of said vertical base element such that when said fastener is tightened within said nuts, said fastener pulls said support plate and said base plate into frictional engagement with said vertical base element so as to provide a stable and balanced, free standing heating unit.  
     
     
         15 . A method of manufacturing a portable camp stove, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a recycled, metal washing machine tub;    securing a lid to an upper opening of said machine tub;    securing a chimney to said lid, said chimney adapted for venting smoke from an interior of said machine tub through said chimney to a predetermined height above said lid;    securing a base to an underside of said machine tub wherein said base includes a vertical base element having an outer dimension less than an outer dimension of said machine tub such that said portable camp stove defines a shoe warming region underneath said machine tub.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said step of securing said base to said machine tub comprises securing a support plate to an underside of said machine tub, securing a first end of an all-thread fastener to said support plate, placing said all-thread fastener through a hollow interior of said vertical base element, securing a second end of said all-thread fastener to a weighted base plate, and tightening said all-thread fastener with respect to said support plate and said base plate such that said all-thread fastener pulls said support plate and said base plate into frictional engagement with said vertical base element.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising securing a warming stand to said lid, wherein said warming stand is positioned at least one inch above said lid.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said step of securing said base to said machine tub is reversible such that said heating unit is collapsible for transport.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said vertical base element has an outer dimension at least four times smaller than an outer dimension of said machine tub.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said base plate weights at least as much as said tub.