Stoves, Stove Components, and Related Methods

Abstract

Stoves and stove-related methods. Some embodiments provide three-piece camping stoves configured for flat storage. Some stoves comprise two flexible and flat panels and a flat crosspiece. The panels define male couplers extending from the panels, female couplers, and crosspiece couplers. The female couplers define slots in the panels while the crosspiece defines panel couplers. Furthermore, the male and female couplers are configured to releasably couple with each other, as are the crosspiece and panel couplers. The panels can possess the same shape and/or the crosspiece couplers can be spaced apart from the panel edges. The female and male couplers can define two differing lengths while the male couplers can comprise in-plane extensions of the panels (define two differing lengths). Moreover, the panel couplers can comprise in-plane extensions of the crosspiece. Additionally, the widths of the panels and crosspiece can be the same.

1 . A stove comprising:
 first and second panels defining respective male, female, and crosspiece couplers, the male couplers being configured to be positioned at opposite ends of the stove wherein the female couplers define coupler slots in the panels and two differing lengths, wherein the male couplers further comprise in-plane extensions of the panels and are about the shorter of the two lengths wide; and   a crosspiece defining first and second panel couplers which are in-plane extensions of the crosspiece wherein the male couplers are configured to releasably couple with the female couplers and wherein the panel couplers are configured to releasably couple with the crosspiece couplers wherein at least one of the panels is a flexible panel configured to bow out when coupled with the other panel and whereby the panels and crosspiece form a structurally stable stove when so coupled directly to one another.   
     
     
         2 . A three-piece compact stove configured to be stowed in a flat configuration, the stove comprising:
 first and second flexible and substantially flat panels defining respective male, female, and crosspiece couplers wherein the male couplers are tongues extending from the panels and are configured to be positioned at opposite ends of the stove, the female couplers defining slots in the panels; and   a substantially flat crosspiece defining first and second panel couplers wherein the male couplers are configured to releasably couple with the female couplers and wherein the panel couplers are configured to engage the crosspiece couplers whereby the panels and crosspiece form a structurally stable stove when so coupled directly to one another.   
     
     
         3 . The stove of  claim 2  wherein the first and second panels possess the same shape. 
     
     
         4 . The stove of  claim 2  wherein the crosspiece couplers are spaced apart from edges of the panels. 
     
     
         5 . The stove of  claim 2  wherein the female couplers further define two differing lengths whereby the male and female couplers latch. 
     
     
         6 . The stove of  claim 2  wherein the male couplers further comprise in-plane extensions of the panels. 
     
     
         7 . The stove of  claim 2  wherein the male couplers define two differing lengths whereby the male and female couplers latch. 
     
     
         8 . The stove of  claim 2  wherein the panel couplers further comprise in-plane extensions of the crosspiece. 
     
     
         9 . The stove of  claim 2  wherein the panels define a first width and wherein the crosspiece defines a second width and wherein the first and second widths are the same. 
     
     
         10 . A stove comprising:
 first and second panels defining respective male, female, and crosspiece couplers, the male couplers being configured to be positioned at opposite ends of the stove; and   a crosspiece defining first and second panel couplers wherein the male couplers are configured to releasably couple with the female couplers and wherein the panel couplers are configured to engage the crosspiece couplers whereby the panels and crosspiece form a structurally stable stove when so coupled directly to one another.   
     
     
         11 . The stove of  claim 10  wherein at least one of the panels is a flexible panel configured to bow out when coupled with the other panel. 
     
     
         12 . The stove of  claim 10  wherein the first and second panels possess the same shape. 
     
     
         13 . The stove of  claim 10  wherein the crosspiece couplers are spaced apart from the edges of the panels. 
     
     
         14 . The stove of  claim 10  further comprising a solid piece of fuel configured to be placed on the crosspiece. 
     
     
         15 . The stove of  claim 10  wherein the female couplers define slots in the panels. 
     
     
         16 . The stove of  claim 15  wherein the female couplers further define two differing lengths whereby the male and female couplers latch. 
     
     
         17 . The stove of  claim 10  wherein the male couplers further comprise in-plane extensions of the panels. 
     
     
         18 . The stove of  claim 10  wherein the male couplers define two differing lengths whereby the male and female couplers latch. 
     
     
         19 . The stove of  claim 10  wherein the panel couplers further comprise in-plane extensions of the crosspiece. 
     
     
         20 . The stove of  claim 10  wherein the panels define a first width and wherein the crosspiece defines a second width and wherein the first and second widths are the same.