Fire pit ring and method of fabricating a fire pit ring and similar circular articles

Abstract

A method utilizing an automated bending machine to bend Z-bar into a circular configuration for use as a fire pit ring or other structure. Z-bar has the desired cross-section such that when it is rolled into a circular configuration, it features a vertical intermediate section, an upper lip extending outward from said vertical intermediate section and lower lip extending inward from said vertical intermediate section. The upper lower serves to hold the fire pit ring in a support structure while the lower lip serves to hold a fire pit container.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method of forming an article comprising:
 selecting an elongated Z-bar member according to length and dimensions of a desired circular article;   feeding said elongated Z-bar member into a bending machine to create said circular article;   aligning a first end portion and second overlapping end portion of said elongated Z-bar; and   connecting said first end portion and said second overlapping end portion of said elongated Z-bar.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising utilizing a bending machine with three rollers in a pyramid configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising utilizing rollers with a middle section sandwiched between a pair of outer sections. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising utilizing rollers with a 3° taper across widths thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising connecting said first end portion and second overlapping end portion of said elongated Z-bar utilizing welding. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising forming a fire pit ring. 
     
     
         7 . A method of forming a fire pit ring comprising:
 selecting an elongated Z-bar member according to length and dimensions of a desired fire pit ring;   feeding said elongated Z-bar member into a bending machine to create said circular fire pit ring having an upper lip extending outward from an intermediate member and a lower lip extending inward from said intermediate member;   aligning a first end portion and a second overlapping end portion of said elongated Z-bar; and   connecting said first end portion and said second overlapping end portion of said elongated Z-bar to form said fire pit ring wherein said upper lip acts to hold said fire pit ring on a support structure and said lower lip acts to hold a fire pit container.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising utilizing a bending machine with three rollers in a pyramid configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising utilizing rollers with a middle section sandwiched between a pair of outer sections. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising utilizing rollers with a 3° taper across widths thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising connecting said first end portion and said second overlapping end portion of said elongated Z-bar utilizing welding. 
     
     
         12 . A fire pit ring comprising:
 an elongated Z-bar member bent into a circular configuration by means of a bending machine so that a first end portion and a second end portion overlap with one another, said first end portion and said second end portion connected to one another forming said fire pit ring having an upper lip configured to hold said fire pit ring in an opening of a support structure and a lower lip configured to hold a fire pit container.   
     
     
         13 . The fire pit ring of  claim 12  wherein said first end portion and said second end portion are welded to one another.