Fire pit with lift off ash handling mechanism

Abstract

A fire pit includes an upper portion having an inner chamber wall defining a combustion chamber with a fuel grate retained therein, and a lower portion having a base member defining an ash receptacle. The upper and lower portions separably mate together such that ash falling through the fuel grate is received in the ash receptacle when the upper and lower portions are fitted together.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fire pit comprising:
 an upper portion having an inner chamber wall defining a combustion chamber with a fuel grate retained therein; and   a lower portion having a base member defining an ash receptacle;   wherein the upper and lower portions separably mate together such that ash falling through the fuel grate is received in the ash receptacle when the upper and lower portions are fitted together.   
     
     
         2 . The fire pit of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel grate comprises a central conic portion. 
     
     
         3 . The fire pit of  claim 2 , wherein the central conic portion is surrounded by a flat surround. 
     
     
         4 . Th fire pit of  claim 2 , wherein the central conic portion comprises a perforated panel. 
     
     
         5 . The fire pit of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion comprises a floor inside a funnel section defining the ash receptacle. 
     
     
         6 . The fire pit of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the inner wall is frustoconical; and   a circumference of an upper end of the funnel section is equal to a circumference of a lower end of the inner wall.   
     
     
         7 . The fire pit of  claim 6 , wherein the lower portion comprises a support surface affixed to the upper end of the funnel section, the support surface supporting the inner wall when the upper portion is mated to the lower portion. 
     
     
         8 . The fire pit of  claim 7 , wherein the lower portion comprises a base wall affixed to the support surface and circumscribing the lower end of the inner wall when the upper portion is mated to the lower portion. 
     
     
         9 . The fire pit of  claim 8 , further comprising a spacer interposing the lower end of the inner wall and the base wall when the upper portion is mated to the lower portion. 
     
     
         10 . The fire pit of  claim 1 , further comprising an outer chamber wall spaced apart from and circumscribing the inner chamber wall to define an airflow space. 
     
     
         11 . The fire pit of  claim 10 , wherein the inner chamber wall defines a first plurality of apertures below a level of the fuel grate and a second plurality of apertures proximate an upper end of the inner chamber wall. 
     
     
         12 . The fire pit of  claim 11 , further comprising a top ring interposing the inner chamber wall and the outer chamber wall above the first plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         13 . The fire pit of  claim 12 , further comprising a rim at a top of the inner chamber wall above the top ring. 
     
     
         14 . The fire pit of  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of handles on the outer chamber wall. 
     
     
         15 . The fire pit of  claim 14  wherein openings in the outer chamber wall defines the plurality of handles. 
     
     
         16 . A fire pit comprising:
 an upper portion including an inner chamber wall defining a combustion chamber and an outer chamber wall spaced apart from the inner chamber wall to define an air flow space between the inner chamber wall and outer chamber wall;   a first plurality of apertures defined in the inner chamber wall proximate a top thereof;   a second plurality of apertures defined in the inner chamber wall below a fuel grate contained therein;   a lower portion having a lower base member that supports the upper portion when the upper portion is fitted to the lower portion; and   an ash receptacle defined by the lower base member that receives ashes that fall through the fuel grate.   
     
     
         17 . The fire pit of  claim 16 , wherein the lower base member comprises a floor surrounded by a funnel section directing ashes toward the floor. 
     
     
         18 . The fire pit of  claim 17 , further comprising a support surface surrounding the funnel section, the support surface supporting the upper portion when the upper portion is fitted to the lower portion. 
     
     
         19 . A fire pit comprising:
 an inner chamber wall defining a combustion chamber, the inner chamber wall defining a first plurality of air apertures proximate an upper end thereof and a second plurality of air apertures proximate a lower end thereof;   a fuel grate supported in the inner chamber wall at a level between the first plurality of apertures and the second plurality of apertures; and   a base member having a supporting surface that supports the inner chamber wall and defining an ash receptacle below the fuel grate;   wherein the fuel grate defines a conic portion that is elevated toward a center thereof.   
     
     
         20 . The fire pit of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 an outer chamber wall spaced apart from the inner chamber wall by a plurality of wall supports interposing the outer chamber wall and inner chamber wall;   wherein the outer chamber wall defines a plurality of handle openings.