초록 ▼

A device for arresting spark and ash issuing from, and precisely controlling the ventilation of and temperature inside, a heat source-containing vessel such as a cooking grill, stove, oven, cooker, fireplace, heater, or firebox. The device comprises a spark arrestor assembly including a base plate,

A device for arresting spark and ash issuing from, and precisely controlling the ventilation of and temperature inside, a heat source-containing vessel such as a cooking grill, stove, oven, cooker, fireplace, heater, or firebox. The device comprises a spark arrestor assembly including a base plate, a cover plate, and a spark arrestor. The base plate defines an opening. The cover plate and spark arrestor are slidably mated in two channels formed in the base plate around the opening. The cover plate and spark arrestor may be adjusted to extend across or only partway across the opening as selected by a user of the device. Tabs are provided on the cover plate and spark arrestor for easy adjustment thereof. Tabs in the base plate are positioned to define a range of slidable motion of the cover plate and spark arrestor. The spark arrestor assembly engages a fire-containing or heat source-containing vessel over an opening defined by the vessel so that the vessel opening cooperates with the spark arrestor assembly opening.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A spark arrestor assembly for a portable cooking unit, comprising: a base plate mountable to and operable with a portable cooking unit in surrounding relation to an opening formed in a portion of the portable cooking unit, said base plate defining an access port to the openin

What is claimed is: 1. A spark arrestor assembly for a portable cooking unit, comprising: a base plate mountable to and operable with a portable cooking unit in surrounding relation to an opening formed in a portion of the portable cooking unit, said base plate defining an access port to the opening enabling communication with an interior portion of the portable cooking unit, said base plate having opposed transverse sides and being bowed between said opposed transverse sides to correspond to the curvature of a portion of a base of the portable cooking unit having a shape comprising part of a body of revolution and to which a back surface of said base plate is adjacently mountable in contact with the portion of the base; a spark arrestor slidingly fastened to a front surface of said base plate and slidingly movable along a non-linear path between (i) a first position fully covering said access port and (ii) a second position wherein said access port is open, said spark arrestor having opposed transverse sides and a tab protruding proximate one of said transverse sides for use in slidingly moving said spark arrestor relative to said access port; said spark arrestor having opposed longitudinal sides and defining a plurality of holes located between said longitudinal sides, said spark arrestor having a portion extending between said holes; and a cover plate slidingly fastened to a front surface of said base plate and substantially adjacent said spark arrestor, said cover plate being slidingly movable along a non-linear path independent of and relative to said spark arrestor and between (i) a first position fully covering said spark arrestor and (ii) a second position wherein said spark arrestor is substantially uncovered, and said cover plate having opposed transverse sides; wherein one of said transverse sides of said cover plate is engageable by said tab of said spark arrestor for causing sliding movement of said spark arrestor and said cover plate in tandem when said spark arrestor is moved in a sliding manner relative to said access port: wherein each of said spark arrestor and said cover plate have respective opposed transverse sides and are bowed between said respective opposed transverse sides to correspond to the curvature of the portion of the base of the portable cooking unit having a shape comprising part of a body of revolution. 2. The spark arrestor assembly of claim 1 wherein said spark arrestor and said cover plate are continuously movable substantially independently of one another so as to define a plurality of airflow openings communicating with an interior portion of the portable cooking unit. 3. The spark arrestor assembly of claim 1 wherein said base plate defines at least one access port opening and comprises a plurality of longitudinally arranged and spaced apart channels into which edge portions of said cover plate and said spark arrestor are slidingly received. 4. The spark arrestor assembly of claim 3 wherein said spark arrestor is movable over a range of motion comprising a continuum of positions wherein said spark arrestor at least one of fully overlaps and partially overlaps said access port. 5. The spark arrestor assembly of claim 3 wherein said cover plate is movable over a range of motion comprising a continuum of positions wherein said cover plate at least one of fully overlaps and partially overlaps said access port. 6. The spark arrestor assembly of claim 1 wherein said holes are arranged in airflow communication between said access port and the interior portion of the portable cooking unit. 7. The spark arrestor assembly of claim 1 wherein said cover plate and said spark arrestor are adjustable to extend at least one of fully across and partially across said access port. 8. The spark arrestor assembly of claim 1 wherein said holes of said spark arrestor are obstructed by at least one of a screen and a mesh so as to prevent ash and sparks from exiting said access port while allowing for airflow communication through said access port to the interior portion of the portable cooking unit. 9. A spark arrestor assembly for a portable cooking unit, comprising: a base plate having a plurality of longitudinally arranged, spaced-apart channels and defining at least one opening between said channels, said base plate being attachable adjacent to and in contact with a wall of a portable cooking unit proximate an opening extending through the wall to an interior portion of the portable cooking unit, the wall having a shape corresponding to a portion of a substantially paraboloidal body of revolution; a spark arrestor defining a plurality of holes obstructed by screen so as to prevent ash and sparks from exiting said at least one opening of said base plate while allowing for airflow communication through said at least one-opening of said base plate to the interior portion of the portable cooking unit, said spark arrestor having a portion extending between said holes of said plurality of holes; and a cover plate located substantially adjacent said spark arrestor, wherein said spark arrestor and said cover plate are slidably mated to said base plate via said channels, and said spark arrestor is operably slidable within said channels along a non-linear path and said cover plate is operably slidable within said channels along a non-linear path and independently of said spark arrestor, wherein said spark arrestor and said cover plate are selectively slidable independently of one another relative to said channels, wherein said spark arrestor and said cover plate are alternatively selectively slidable in unison relative to said channels via coupling of said spark arrestor and said cover plate; and wherein each of said base plate, said spark arrestor, and said cover plate have respective opposed transverse sides and are bowed between said respective opposed transverse sides to correspond to the shape of the wall. 10. The spark arrestor assembly of claim 9 wherein said spark arrestor is adapted for coupling to said cover plate during sliding movement of said spark arrestor within said channels that causes said opening between said channels to be less occluded by said spark arrestor. 11. The spark arrestor assembly of claim 9 wherein said spark arrestor is positioned at least partially between said cover plate and said base plate. 12. The spark arrestor assembly of claim 9 wherein said cover plate and said spark arrestor are slidably adjustable to extend at least one of fully across and partially across said at least one opening between said channels. 13. The spark arrestor assembly of claim 9 wherein said spark arrestor and said cover plate are adjustable to control a flow of air into the portable cooking unit. 14. A spark arrestor assembly for a portable cooking unit, comprising: a base plate defining at least one opening and comprising a plurality of longitudinally arranged and spaced apart channels and at least one first tab, said base plate having a back surface mountable adjacent to and in contact with a wall of a portable cooking unit having an interior portion, the wall having a substantially domical shape; a spark arrestor including at least one second tab and defining two, parallel openings that are each obstructed by an air permeable mesh so as to prevent ash and sparks from exiting said parallel openings while allowing for airflow communication through said parallel openings to the interior portion of the portable cooking unit, said spark arrestor having a portion extending between said parallel openings; and a cover plate having at least one third tab wherein said spark arrestor and said cover plate are arranged one adjacent the other so as to be independently slidably mated to said base plate within said spaced-apart channels, said spark arrestor being operably slidable via said at least one second tab and said cover plate being operably slidable via said at least one third tab so that said spark arrestor and said cover plate are slidable along a non-linear path over a range of positions that are limited by said at least one first tab, and said spark arrestor and said cover plate being further operably slidable along a non-linear path in unison via said at least one second tab over a range of positions limited by said at least one first tab; wherein each of said base plate, said spark arrestor and said cover plate have respective opposed transverse sides and are bowed between said respective opposed transverse sides to mirror the substantially domical shape of the wall. 15. The spark arrestor assembly of claim 14 wherein said spark arrestor is positioned between said cover plate and said base plate. 16. The spark arrestor assembly of claim 14 wherein said range of positions is continuous wherein said spark arrestor is at least one of fully overlapping and partially overlapping said at least one opening of said base plate and said cover plate is at least one of fully overlapping and partially overlapping at least one of said parallel openings of said spark arrestor. 17. The spark arrestor assembly of claim 14 wherein said base plate defines a plurality of apertures for fastening of said base plate to the wall of the portable cooking unit.