Collapsible Fire Pit and Propane Tank Holder

Abstract

A fire pit designed to be stored and shipped in a flat configuration, and assembled without tools in a matter of minutes into a freestanding, durable structure capable of functioning as well or better than a non-collapsible fire pit. The fire pit comprises an essentially flat base with a unique slot and flange structure adapted to receive and support side panels. The side panels include female sides with vertical corner members on their side edges that allow flat male sides to mate securely with the female sides, and with the intersecting edges of the sides both covered and reinforced for a neat appearance and robust structure. A top includes a slot and flange structure that fits over and unifies and hides the upper edges of the sides, completing the assembly.

1 . A collapsible structure suitable for use as a fire pit or fire pit accessory comprising:
 a base comprising a substantially flat bottom panel, raised peripheral side edges in a polygonal pattern, and raised interior flanges generally parallel to and spaced inwardly from each of the side edges to define receiving slots between the side edges and the flanges;   at least three substantially flat sides having upper, lower, and side edges;   a top comprising an outer frame comprising an inner polygonal vertical frame spaced outwardly from the inner edge and extending downwardly from the outer frame in a polygonal array corresponding to the peripheral side edges of the base, and further comprising interior vertical flanges generally parallel to and spaced inwardly from the vertical frame to define joining slots between the vertical frame and the interior vertical flanges; wherein,   the sides fit vertically into the receiving slots in the base, and wherein the joining slots in the top fit vertically over upper edges of the sides; and wherein,   the base, the sides, and the top stack substantially flat when disassembled for storage or shipping.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible structure of  claim 1 , wherein the sides comprise two female sides, each female side comprising a substantially flat side panel and at least one V-shaped vertical outer corner piece associated with and generally parallel to a vertical side edge of the side panel, the vertical outer corner piece connected to the side edge of the side panel and adapted to receive a side edge of an adjacent side, and two male sides each comprising a substantially flat side panel and two male side edges adapted to be received by the vertical outer corner pieces of the female sides, the two female sides fitting vertically into two of the receiving slots in the base, and the two male sides fitting vertically into two of the receiving slots in the base and into the outer corner pieces of the two female sides. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible structure of  claim 1 , wherein the base is rectangular and comprises four side edges, and wherein the female sides each comprise two vertical outer corner pieces. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible structure of  claim 1 , wherein the outer corner pieces overlie the side edges of the female and male panels when the fire pit is assembled. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible structure of  claim 1 , wherein the female sides are square, and wherein the horizontal edges of one female side mate with the vertical outer corner pieces of the other female side when the female sides are packed substantially flat. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible structure of  claim 1 , wherein all side edges of the flat panel portions of the fire pit are covered by a perpendicular flange member when the fire pit is assembled. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible structure of  claim 1 , wherein the raised interior flanges on the base extend less than a full length of the sides and are spaced from both ends of the sides. 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible structure of  claim 1 , wherein the interior vertical flanges on the top extend less than a full length of the sides and are spaced from both ends of the sides. 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible structure of  claim 1 , wherein the corner pieces extend less than a full length of the female side edges such that a free portion of the female side edges is exposed at each end of each corner piece. 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible structure of  claim 1 , wherein the top comprises an opening and an inner edge. 
     
     
         11 . A collapsible structure suitable for use as a fire pit or fire pit accessory comprising:
 a base comprising a substantially flat bottom panel, raised peripheral side edges in a polygonal pattern, and raised interior locking flanges generally parallel to and spaced inwardly from each of the side edges to define receiving slots between the side edges and the flanges;   at least three sides, each side comprising a substantially flat side panel and at least two of the sides comprising at least one angled vertical outer corner piece generally parallel to and spaced outwardly from a vertical side edge of the side panel, the vertical outer corner piece connected to the side edge of the side panel, and adapted to receive a free edge of an adjacent side;   a top comprising an outer frame comprising an inner edge defining a top opening, a polygonal vertical locking frame spaced outwardly from the inner edge and extending downwardly from the outer frame in a polygonal array corresponding to the peripheral side edges of the base, and further comprising interior vertical locking flanges generally parallel to and spaced inwardly from the locking frame and spaced outwardly from the inner edge to define joining slots between the locking frame and the inner edge; wherein,   the sides fit vertically into the receiving slots in the base, with at least one free edge of at least one of the sides located behind a free leg of the vertical outer corner piece of at least one of the other sides, and wherein the joining slots in the top fit vertically over upper edges of the sides, and wherein, the base, the sides, and the top stack substantially flat when disassembled for storage or shipping.