Assemblable fire pit and outdoor grill from concrete based artificiall stone

Abstract

A modular outdoor barbeque grill and firepit is constructed of artificial stone-like slab members, which permit a uniform construction method by utilizing only a single block with a universal joint configuration to create an easily assembled, disassembled, re-assembled, and inexpensively manufactured product. Simple variation in the slab members' length, as well as relocation of the joint permits tremendous versatility of product design without increasing complexity of assembly. Slab members are cast of air-entrained concrete in elastomeric molds for reduced density and lighter weight members, which have advantageous thermal properties, exhibit greater longevity in adverse weath conditions, and may be so formed with pigments to resemble stone, brick, or decorative mosaic tile. The ease of construction by the design of this invention also permits quick transition between a backyard fire pit and a barbeque grill with a sophisticated appearance.

1 . A modular assembly for use as a fire pit or outdoor grill, said modular assembly comprising:
 (a) a plurality of slab members; each of said slab members being comprised of an upper surface, a lower surface, an inside surface, an outside surface, a front end surface and a rear end surface; said upper surface being generally parallel to said lower surface; said upper surface of said slab member having a first top notch and a second top notch, said first top notch and said second top notch each extending from said outside surface to said inside surface; said first notch being located in proximity to said front end surface, and said second notch being located in proximity to said second end surface; said lower surface of said slab member having a first bottom notch and a second bottom notch, said first bottom notch and said second bottom notch each extending from said outside surface to said inside surface; said first bottom notch being located relative to said front end surface the same as the first top notch, and said second bottom notch being located relative to said second end surface the same as said second top notch;   (b) said slab members being adapted to be assembled wherein there is a bottom course formed by positioning a first pair of said slab members parallel to each other, and separated by a distance equal to the spacing between the first and second notches; and positioning a second pair of said slab members parallel to each other but cross-wise to said first pair of slab members, and wherein said second pair of slab members are spaced such that said bottom notches in said second pair of slab members dovetail with said top notches of said first pair of slab members;   (c) a plurality of successive courses, each of said successive courses comprising a primary pair of said slab members and a secondary pair of said slab members; said primary pair of slab members being oriented parallel to said first pair of slab members of said bottom course, and assembled to dovetail with a course below, said course below comprising either said first pair of slab members of said bottom course or a secondary pair of slab members of one of said successive courses; and positioning said secondary pair of slab members parallel to each other but cross-wise to said primary pair of slab members, and wherein said secondary pair of slab members are spaced such that said bottom notches in said secondary pair of slab members dovetail with said top notches of said first pair of slab members.   
   
   
       2 . The modular assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said inside surface and said outside surface of said slab member are generally parallel to each other and are orthogonal to said upper surface and said lower surface; and wherein said front end surface and said rear end surface of said slab member are generally parallel to each other and are orthogonal to said inside surface and said outside surface; and wherein said surfaces form an elongated block having a rectangular cross-section. 
   
   
       3 . The modular assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of any of said inside surface, said outside surface, said front end surface, and said rear end surface of said slab member are curved. 
   
   
       4 . The modular assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said inside surface of said slab member is also comprised of two or more orifices; and wherein said orifices of said primary pair of slab members and said orifices of said secondary pair of slab members comprising one of said successive courses each house a rod which protrudes away from said slabs; said rods supporting a bottom grill grate. 
   
   
       5 . The modular assembly according to  claim 4  wherein said bottom grill grate is capable of supporting a fire. 
   
   
       6 . The modular assembly according to  claim 5  wherein said bottom grill grate is removable. 
   
   
       7 . The modular assembly according to  claim 6  wherein said orifices of said primary pair of slab members and said orifices of said secondary pair of slab members of one of said successive courses each house a rod each house a rod which protrudes from said slab; said rods supporting a top grill grate. 
   
   
       8 . The modular assembly according to  claim 7  wherein said top grill grate permits cooking of food. 
   
   
       9 . The modular assembly according to  claim 8  wherein a plurality of additional courses is positioned below said bottom course, for use in creating an opening, each of said additional courses comprising:
 (a) a set of lateral slab members and a primary pair of slab members, said set of lateral slab members comprising one slab member and two spacer slab members, each of said spacer slabs comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, an inside surface, an outside surface, a front end surface and a rear end surface; said upper surface being generally parallel to said lower surface; said upper surface of said spacer slab member having a top notch, said top notch extending from said outside surface to said inside surface; said top notch being located approximately midway between said front end surface and said rear end surface; said lower surface of said spacer slab member having a bottom notch, said bottom notch extending from said outside surface to said inside surface; said bottom notch being located relative to said front end surface the same as said top notch;   (b) positioning said two spacer slabs of said set of lateral slab members to be in line with each other such that the distance between said top notch of each spacer slab is equal to the distance between said first and second notches of said slab member; and positioning said slab member of said set of lateral slab members parallel to said in-line spacer slabs and at a distance such that said top notches in said set of lateral slab members dovetails with a course above, said course above comprising either said first pair of slab members of said bottom course or a primary pair of slab members of one of said additional courses; and positioning said primary pair of slab members parallel to each other but cross-wise to said set of lateral slab members, and wherein said primary pair of slab members are spaced such that said top notches of said primary pair of slab members dovetail with said bottom notches of said set of lateral slab members.   
   
   
       10 . The modular assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein said inside surface and said outside surface of said spacer slab member are generally parallel to each other and are orthogonal to said upper surface and said lower surface; and wherein said front end surface and said rear end surface of said spacer slab member are generally parallel to each other and are orthogonal to said inside surface and said outside surface; and wherein said surfaces form an elongated block having a rectangular cross-section. 
   
   
       11 . The modular assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of any of said inside surface, said outside surface, said front end surface, and said rear end surface of said spacer slab member is curved. 
   
   
       12 . The modular assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein said inside surface, said outside surface, said front end surface, and said rear end surface of said spacer slab member smoothly transition to form a single curved continuous surface. 
   
   
       13 . The modular assembly according to  claim 9  wherein said second pair of slab members of a top course are also connected with a pair of plain slab members, and wherein said top course is comprised of the last of said plurality of successive courses; said plain slab member being constructed the same as said slab member but without said first top notch and said second top notch. 
   
   
       14 . The modular assembly according to  claim 9  wherein said second pair of slab members of a top course are also connected with a plain slab member, and wherein said top course is comprised of the last of said plurality of successive courses; said plain slab member being constructed the same as said slab member but without said first top notch and said second top notch. 
   
   
       15 . The modular assembly according to  claim 9  wherein a base course is positioned below said bottom course, said base course comprising a base pair of slab members which dovetail with said bottom course, and a base pair of plain slab members, wherein said first bottom notch and said second bottom notch of said plain slab members dovetail with said first bottom notch and-said second bottom notch of said base pair of slab members. 
   
   
       16 . The modular assembly according to  claim 15  wherein said top notches and said bottom notches are rectangular shaped. 
   
   
       17 . The modular assembly according to  claim 15  wherein said top notch comprises a notch with a male protrusion, and wherein said bottom notch comprises a notch with a female indentation; said male protrusion and female indentation being capable of interlocking. 
   
   
       18 . The modular assembly according to  claim 17  wherein said male protrusion and said female indentation are conically shaped. 
   
   
       19 . The modular assembly according to  claim 17  wherein said male protrusion and said female indentation are V-shaped. 
   
   
       20 . The modular assembly according to  claim 17  wherein said male protrusion and said female protrusion are cylindrically shaped. 
   
   
       21 . The modular assembly according to  claim 17  wherein said male protrusion and said female protrusion have a hemispherical shape. 
   
   
       22 . The modular assembly according to  claim 17  wherein said male protrusion and said female protrusion comprise a complex convex shape. 
   
   
       23 . The modular assembly according to  claim 15  wherein said assembly further comprises a fume hood. 
   
   
       24 . The modular assembly according to  claim 23  wherein said fume hood rests on said top grill grate. 
   
   
       25 . The modular assembly according to  claim 23  wherein said fume hood rests on said top course. 
   
   
       26 . The modular assembly according to  claim 23  wherein said fume hood rests on said plain slab members. 
   
   
       27 . The modular assembly according to  claim 23  wherein said fume hood is mechanically attached to said plain slab members, said attachment means is from the group consisting of: protruding dowel pins; masonry screws; or anchors. 
   
   
       28 . The modular assembly according to  claim 23  wherein said fume hood is constructed from the group consisting of: copper; brass; ferrous alloy; bronze; aluminum; or flame proof composite material. 
   
   
       29 . The modular assembly according to  claim 28  wherein said composite material is from the group consisting of: phenolic resin; fiberglass; or carbon fiber reinforced epoxy. 
   
   
       30 . The modular assembly according to  claim 23  wherein said fume hood has insulated side handles. 
   
   
       31 . The modular assembly according to  claim 9  wherein said second pair of slab members of a top course are also connected with a transition slab member, and wherein said top course is comprised of the last of said plurality of successive courses; said transition slab member being constructed the same as said slab member but with said second top notch being located along said top surface at a position in between said first bottom notch and said second bottom notch. 
   
   
       32 . The modular assembly according to  claim 31  wherein said fume hood is constructed by assembling a plurality of open hood courses, each of said open fume courses comprising a pair of short slab members and said set of lateral slab members, said short slab member being formed like a slab member and having a length shorter than said slab member. 
   
   
       33 . The modular assembly according to  claim 32  wherein said assembly of said fume hood further comprises a plurality of closed hood courses, each of said closed fume courses comprising a pair of said slab members and a pair of said short slab members. 
   
   
       34 . The modular assembly according to  claim 33  wherein said assembly of said fume hood further comprises a plurality of telescoping hood courses, each of said telescoping fume courses comprising a pair of short slab members and a pair of variable length slab members, said variable length slab members being formed like a slab member and having any length which is shorter than said slab member. 
   
   
       35 . The modular assembly according to  claim 8  wherein said top grill grate is constructed from the group consisting of: copper; carbon steel; cast iron; stainless steel; bronze; brass; aluminum; high temperature glass; or opaque glazed high impact ceramic. 
   
   
       36 . The modular assembly according to  claim 8  wherein said top grill grate is a gas burner. 
   
   
       37 . The modular assembly according to  claim 34  wherein said slab members, said spacer slab members, said plain slab members, said short slab members, and said variable length slab members are formed of cast concrete. 
   
   
       38 . The modular assembly according to  claim 37  wherein said cast concrete is surface pigmented. 
   
   
       39 . The modular assembly according to  claim 37  wherein said surface pigment is from the group consisting of: particles of metal oxide; inorganic pigments; organic pigments; and organic dyes. 
   
   
       40 . The modular assembly according to  claim 39  wherein said concrete is cast to mimic the appearance of material from the group consisting of: stone; brick; and decorative mosaic tile. 
   
   
       41 . The modular assembly according to  claim 40  wherein said cast concrete comprises air entrained concrete. 
   
   
       42 . The modular assembly according to  claim 41  wherein said cast concrete comprises reduced density concrete. 
   
   
       43 . The modular assembly according to  claim 42  wherein said cast concrete comprises thermally insulative concrete. 
   
   
       44 . A modular assembly for use as a fire pit or outdoor grill, said modular assembly comprising:
 (a) a plurality of slab members; each of said slab members being comprised of an upper surface, a lower surface, an inside surface, an outside surface, a front end surface and a rear end surface to form an elongated block having a rectangular cross-section; said upper surface of said slab member having a first top notch and a second top notch, said first top notch and said second top notch each extending from said outside surface to said inside surface; said first notch being located in proximity to said front end surface, and said second notch being located in proximity to said second end surface; said lower surface of said slab member having a first bottom notch and a second bottom notch, said first bottom notch and said second bottom notch each extending from said outside surface to said inside surface; said first bottom notch being located relative to said front end surface the same as the first top notch, and said second bottom notch being located relative to said second end surface the same as said second top notch;   (b) said slab members being adapted to be assembled wherein there is a bottom course formed by positioning a first pair of said slab members parallel to each other, and separated by a distance equal to the spacing between the first and second notches; and positioning a second pair of said slab members parallel to each other but cross-wise to said first pair of slab members, and wherein said second pair of slab members are spaced such that said bottom notches in said second pair of slab members dovetail with said top notches of said first pair of slab members;   (c) a plurality of successive courses, each of said successive courses comprising a primary pair of said slab members and a secondary pair of said slab members; said primary pair of slab members being oriented parallel to said first pair of slab members of said bottom course, and assembled to dovetail with a course below, said course below comprising either said first pair of slab members of said bottom course or a secondary pair of slab members of one of said successive courses; and positioning said secondary pair of slab members parallel to each other but cross-wise to said primary pair of slab members, and wherein said secondary pair of slab members are spaced such that said bottom notches in said secondary pair of slab members dovetail with said top notches of said first pair of slab members.