Solar Cooking System

Abstract

An easily transportable solar cooking system that is capable of effectively utilizing available sunlight in locations having obstructed views of the sky. A plurality of support members upon which one or more reflective elements may be mounted, may be independently placed adjacent to an object to be heated. A user may manually adjust the angle of each reflective element, a concave mirror in the preferred embodiment, with respect to the support member so as to reflect a focused beam of light onto the object to be heated. The reflective elements may be mounted via a separable ball and socket joint such that the reflective elements and support members may be disassembled and compactly stored for easy storage and transport.

1 . A solar cooking system comprising:
 (a) a plurality of reflective elements, each reflective element being attached to a support member; and   (b) a means for supporting an object to be heated,   wherein said support members are capable of being independently placed adjacent to said object and said reflective elements are capable of being positioned so as to reflect light onto said object.   
     
     
         2 . The solar cooking system of  claim 1  wherein said reflective element is a mirror having a concave reflective surface. 
     
     
         3 . The solar cooking system of  claim 1  wherein said reflective element has a flat reflective surface. 
     
     
         4 . The solar cooking system of  claim 2  wherein at least one end of each of said support members is adapted for insertion into soil. 
     
     
         5 . The solar cooking system of  claim 4  wherein said support member further comprises a flexible portion. 
     
     
         6 . The solar cooking system of  claim 4  wherein one or more reflective elements is attached to a support member via a separable ball and socket joint. 
     
     
         7 . The solar cooking system of  claim 6  wherein said object is a cooking vessel. 
     
     
         8 . The solar cooking system of  claim 7  wherein said means for supporting an object to be heated is a tripod. 
     
     
         9 . The solar cooking system of  claim 7  wherein said means for supporting an object to be heated is a cooking stand having at least one surface upon which to support a cooking vessel, said surface including a void through which said cooking vessel partially extends to expose a portion of said cooking vessel to light reflected from said reflective elements. 
     
     
         10 . A solar cooking system comprising:
 (a) a base structure having a top surface upon which a plurality of support members are mounted;   (b) a plurality of reflective elements, one or more of said reflective elements being attached to one of said support members; and   (b) a means for supporting an object to be heated,   wherein said support members are capable of being independently mounted adjacent to said object and said reflective elements are capable of being positioned so as to reflect light onto said object.   
     
     
         11 . The solar cooking system of  claim 10  wherein said support members are removably mounted on said base structure. 
     
     
         12 . The solar cooking system of  claim 11  wherein said reflective element is a mirror having a concave reflective surface. 
     
     
         13 . The solar cooking system of  claim 10  wherein said reflective element has a flat reflective surface. 
     
     
         14 . The solar cooking system of  claim 12  wherein one or more reflective elements is attached to a support member via a separable ball and socket joint. 
     
     
         15 . The solar cooking system of  claim 12  wherein said support member further comprises a flexible portion. 
     
     
         16 . The solar cooking system of  claim 14  wherein said object is a cooking vessel. 
     
     
         17 . The solar cooking system of  claim 16  wherein said means for supporting an object to be heated is a tripod. 
     
     
         18 . The solar cooking system of  claim 16  wherein said means for supporting an object to be heated is a cooking stand having at least one surface upon which to support a cooking vessel, said surface including a void through which said cooking vessel partially extends to expose a portion of said cooking vessel to light reflected from said reflective elements.