Firepit heat director

Abstract

A heat director ( 4 ) for a firepit ( 1 ) reflects and directs heat from the firepit ( 1 ) outwards (horizontally). The heat director ( 4 ) is located above, and spaced apart from, the heat source ( 5 ) of the firepit ( 1 ), and is substantially horizontal with respect to the surrounding ground. Generally vertical brackets ( 3 ) are fixedly mounted to the heat director ( 4 ), and are used to keep the heat director ( 4 ) in its desired position. In a preferred embodiment, the heat director ( 4 ) is made of tempered glass, but it may also be made of metal. In some embodiments, the heat source ( 5 ) is surrounded by a windscreen ( 2 ). In these embodiments, the brackets ( 3 ) are also fixedly mounted to the windscreen ( 2 ). Set screws ( 23 ) are used to attach the brackets ( 3 ) to the heat director ( 4 ), and to the windscreen ( 2 ) in those embodiments where a windscreen ( 2 ) is present. In embodiments where a windscreen ( 2 ) is not present, the brackets ( 3 ) may be modified so that they rest on a heat insulating mass ( 6 ) that surrounds the heat source ( 5 ).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A firepit comprising:
 a heat source; and   a substantially horizontal heat director situated above, and spaced apart from, the heat source.   
     
     
         2 . The firepit of  claim 1  wherein the heat director is spaced apart from the heat source by a fixed distance, by means of a set of generally vertical brackets holding the heat director in a fixed position. 
     
     
         3 . The firepit of  claim 1  wherein the heat director is spaced apart from the heat source by a variable distance, by means of a set of generally vertical brackets each having the same variable length. 
     
     
         4 . The firepit of  claim 3  wherein each bracket comprises two pieces, a first piece fitting inside a slightly larger second piece, with the two pieces held in position by set screws or other means. 
     
     
         5 . The firepit of  claim 1  wherein the heat director is fabricated of tempered glass. 
     
     
         6 . The firepit of  claim 1  wherein the heat director is fabricated of metal. 
     
     
         7 . The firepit of  claim 1  further comprising a set of generally vertical brackets, each bracket having an upper horizontal slot adapted to grasp opposing sides of the heat director. 
     
     
         8 . The firepit of  claim 7  further comprising a windscreen having at least one vertical surface and positioned around the heat source, wherein each bracket has a lower vertical slot adapted to grasp two opposing sides of a vertical surface of the windscreen. 
     
     
         9 . The firepit of  claim 8  wherein the horizontal and vertical slots are fastened to the heat director and to the windscreen, respectively, via set screws. 
     
     
         10 . The firepit of  claim 9  wherein the set screws are tipped with nylon or Teflon. 
     
     
         11 . The firepit of  claim 9  wherein the heat director, windscreen, brackets, and set screws have substantially the same coefficients of thermal expansion. 
     
     
         12 . The firepit of  claim 1  further comprising a windscreen surrounding the heat source, wherein:
 the heat director is positioned above the windscreen and covers at least the entire area of the windscreen in the horizontal plane; and 
 a set of generally vertical brackets connects the heat director to the windscreen. 
 
     
     
         13 . The firepit of  claim 1  further comprising a heat insulator surrounding the heat source, wherein:
 a set of generally vertical brackets holds the heat director in place above the heat source, with each bracket resting on the heat insulator via a horizontal foot. 
 
     
     
         14 . The firepit of  claim 1  wherein the heat source comprises natural gas or propane. 
     
     
         15 . The firepit of  claim 1  wherein each of the heat source and heat director has a rectangular shape in the horizontal plane. 
     
     
         16 . The firepit of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the heat source and heat director has a shape in the horizontal plane that is other than rectangular.