US20050178377A1

US20050178377A1 - Multifunctional portable structure

Info

Publication number: US20050178377A1
Application number: US10/512,976
Authority: US
Inventors: Ettore Accornero; Davide Adriano; Gabriele Adriano
Original assignee: Foppa Pedretti SpA
Current assignee: Foppa Pedretti SpA
Priority date: 2002-05-03
Filing date: 2003-04-29
Publication date: 2005-08-18
Also published as: EP1483537A2; WO2003093730A2; ITMI20020231V0; WO2003093730A3; AU2003223019A8; ITMI20020231U1; AU2003223019A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multi-purpose portable structure which comprises a hollow base containing a fuel cylinder, the hollow base being connected to a hollow rod, the hollow rod having in its free part a burner which is provided with a valve, this valve being provided with an activation control able to regulate a flow of fuel from the fuel cylinder to the burner, the burner having a diffuser which can generate a combustion space, and in particular has the characteristic of comprising interchangeable accessories which can be connected to the burner such as to act as a lamp or as a food warmer.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-purpose portable structure, and particularly but not exclusively to a portable structure which can be transformed from a food warmer to a lighting lamp, and vice versa.
2. Related Prior Art
Outdoor lighting and heating devices are known which can irradiate heat or light such as to heat and light the areas adjacent to the source of heat itself.
Devices of this type make it possible for example to stay outdoors in low temperatures, and to make the best use throughout the year of outdoor working spaces, such as the outside of bars, hotels, restaurants, discotheques, gardens and terraces.
Consequently these heaters are situated in the open areas in front of the said premises for social gatherings, such as to allow dishes to be sampled or conversations to be held even during cold periods.
These heater devices usually use either liquid fuels, such as naphtha, diesel or the like, or gaseous fuels, such as methane, LPG, etc.
The heating capacity can range from 8000 Kcal/h (9.3 KW) for gas, up to 5,000,000 Kcal/h (5814 KW) both for gas and liquid fuels, in the various forms and types of installation.
However, these devices have the disadvantage of having heavy weights and large dimensions, and therefore of being difficult to move.
Portable devices are also known which can heat food and dishes, and can light limited spaces, and are used particularly by campers, usually being provided with a small cylinder which contains a liquid gas, or being supplied electrically with power of approximately 500 Watts, such as to make the device itself moderately useful.
In the case of an electrical supply, these lighting and food-heating devices cannot be used in every location, whereas those which are supplied with liquid gas do not have the capacity either to be able to heat and cook large quantities of foods and dishes, owing to the low capacity of the supply cylinder, or to light spaces with a more extensive surface area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the prior art described, the object of the present invention is to provide a portable multi-purpose structure which, as well as fulfilling the functions of a food warmer in a first configuration, is also designed for lighting in a second configuration.
In accordance with the present invention, this object is achieved by the portable multi-purpose structure according to the invention, which comprises a hollow base containing a fuel cylinder, the said hollow base being connected to a hollow rod, the said hollow rod having in its free part a burner which is provided with a valve, this valve being provided with an activation control which can regulate a flow of fuel from the fuel cylinder to the burner, the said burner having a diffuser which can generate a combustion space, and is characterised in that it comprises interchangeable accessories which can be connected to the said burner such as to act as a lamp or as a food warmer.
By this means, since the innovative invention is easy to transport, it makes it possible to create an area for the preparation of drinks such as coffee or tea in any location, in an extremely simple manner and without any constraints.
In addition, since the innovative invention is multipurpose, it also permits transformation from a food warmer into a lighting lamp and vice versa, by means of simple and intuitive assembly operations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of some practical embodiments, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the attached drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a lateral view of the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows a first configuration of the present invention;
FIG. 3 shows a second configuration of the present invention;
FIG. 4 shows a view in cross-section of the invention in FIG. 3, and
FIG. 5 shows a plan view from above of the invention in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the said figures and in particular to FIG. 1,1 indicates as a whole a portable structure 1 provided with a base 2 which is connected to a rod 3. In its free end part, this rod 3 has a burner 4 which is provided with a regulation valve 5.
In addition, this rod 3 is coaxial relative to a shelf 6 which acts as an object-holder surface.
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4 it can be noted that the base 2 is hollow, and defines a space such as to permit accommodation of a cylinder 7 which contains either liquid fuels, such as naphtha, diesel or the like, or gaseous fuels, such as methane, LPG, etc.
In addition it should be noted that the rod 3 is also hollow, such as to put this cylinder 7 in fluid connection with the said burner 4.
Since the valve 5 is provided with an activation control 8, it is possible to regulate the flow of fuel from the cylinder 7 to the burner 4.
The fuel passes through a diffuser 4 a, and can thus generate a combustion space (not illustrated in FIGS. 1-5), the gaseous or liquid fuel being finely sprayed, together with the correct quantity of air necessary in order to obtain the combustion.
In particular, FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the present invention, in which it can be noted that the combustion, which is obtained by means of the burner 4, and the intensity of which is regulated by the valve 5 by means of the control 8, is utilised by a baffle-plate element 9.
This baffle-plate element 9 is a protection device which can define a combustion chamber 10 in which the combustion space can be diffused and the surrounding area can be lit.
The baffle plate 9 is provided with a plurality 11 of superimposed annular elements which are closed at the top and are concentric, with development which faces downwards; these superimposed annular elements 11 being provided with lateral slots 12 such as to protect the combustion chamber 10 against external atmospheric agents.
By this means the structure 1 acts as an outdoor lamp, and is easy to transport, and thus to move to the points to be lit.
With reference now in particular to FIGS. 3-5, the invention is shown used in a different configuration of usage, in which it can be noted that the combustion, which is obtained by means of the burner 4, and the intensity of which is regulated by the valve 5 by means of the control 8, is used by a burner 13.
This burner 13 is provided with a flame-trap nozzle 14 with a circular shape, and with a plurality of support elements 15.
The flame trap 14 is used to reduce and regulate the combustion space generated by the burner 4.
In this particular embodiment, the support elements 15 are in the form of an inverted tripod, that is they have a form which consists of a triangle made of iron or of another heat-resistant material, with three supports or feet.
These supports 15 branch out from the rod 3 towards the exterior of the structure, and are advantageously provided with grooves 16 which can engage with the base of the pot to be heated.
By this means it is possible to move the structure 1 which acts as a food warmer to any location, and to prepare extremely simply and without any constraints drinks for comfort and relaxation.
In both the embodiments previously described, it is easy to carry out the transformation of the portable structure 1 from a lamp, illustrated in FIG. 2, to a food warmer, illustrated in FIG. 3.
In fact, both the lamp and the food warmer are connected to the burner 4, for example by means of fast connections of the thread, bayonet, or snap-on type.

Claims

1. A multi-purpose portable structure comprising a hollow base containing a fuel cylinder, the hollow base being connected to a hollow rod, the hollow rod having in its free part a burner which is provided with a valve, this valve being provided with an activation control able to regulate a flow of fuel from the fuel cylinder to the burner, the burner having a diffuser which can generate a combustion space, wherein it comprises interchangeable accessories which can be connected to the burner such as to act as a lamp or as a food warmer.

2. The multi-purpose portable structure according to claim 1, wherein it comprises means for fast coupling, for connection of the interchangeable accessories to the burner.

3. The multi-purpose portable structure according to claim 1, wherein the connectable accessories are a baffle-plate element which can define a combustion chamber, in which the combustion space is diffused and illuminates a surrounding area.

4. The multi-purpose portable structure according to claim 2, wherein the said baffle plate consists of a plurality of superimposed annular elements which are closed at the top, and are provided with lateral slots, the plurality of annular elements comprising a discoid element with a development which faces downwards, such as to protect the combustion chamber against external atmospheric agents.

5. The multi-purpose portable structure according to claim 1, wherein the connectable accessory is a burner.

6. The multi-purpose portable structure according to claim 4, wherein the burner consists of a flame-trap nozzle with a circular shape, and of a plurality of support elements.

7. The multi-purpose portable structure according to claim 5, wherein the support elements are in the form of an inverted tripod.