GB2362947A - Gas stove including collapsible support elements - Google Patents

Abstract

A gas stove has<BR> ```a body (2) extending along an axis (Y-Y') in which a duct (4) is provided for a fuel gas to flow from an inlet (4a) for the said pressurized gas,<BR> ```a means for mixing primary air with the fuel gas, comprising an injector (6) for the expulsion of a jet of the fuel gas,<BR> ```a burner (7) mounted on the body (2) at the outlet of the mixing means (5) and<BR> ```at least three bent arms and mounted so as to pivot about three axes (X-X') orthogonal to the axis (Y-Y') with locking means enabling the bent arms (10) to be kept in their opened-out position. Each bent arm has a portion 106 of sufficient length to place a support part 10c above the burner 7 when the arms are opened out.

Description

2362947 1

The present invention relates to the general technical field of gas stoves and in particular to portable stoves which include means for supporting a cooking vessel. Such stoves are generally supplied with fuel gas, for example butane, from a pressurized container and are mounted directly on the said container, or are supplied via a pipe connecting the said stove to the said container.

Gas stoves are known which comprise:

- a body extending along an axis (Y-Y') in which a duct is provided for a fuel gas to flow from an inlet for the said pressurized gas, - a rAeans for mixing primary air with the fuel gas, comprising an injector for the expulsion of a jet of the fuel gas, - a burner mounted on the body at the outlet of the means for mixing air, - at least three bent arms which are angularly distributed around the axis (Y-YI) and mounted so as to pivot by means of pivots about three axes (X_XI) orthogonal to the axis (Y-YI), each comprising an elongate support element, the said bent arms each being able to pivot between an opened-out position, in which the support elements together define a cooking surface, and a position in which each arm is folded down towards the body, - and locking means enabling the bent arms to be kept in their opened-out position.

Such stoves remain bulky and are made from a large number of components. This does not-make them easy to use or to be stowed in a pouch of a backpack.

Size is an essential aspect insofar as the user is obliged to carry not only the stove but also the pressurized-gas container, in this case a gas cartridge. The size of such gas stoves also increases when they are combined with or include collapsible support elements for forming a cooking surface.

The object of the present invention is therefore to produce a gas stove with collapsible arm support arms intended to produce a cooking -surface, while being smaller in size and comprising a small number of components.

Another object of the present invention is to make the means for locking such support arms reliable, while in no way altering the size of the said stove in its entirety.

According to the invention, at least part of the burner is vertically above the pivots, each bent has a bearing first part mounted on the corresponding pivot by one of its ends and a connecting second part which connects the corresponding elongate support element, the said connecting second part defining a distance L between the bearing first part and the elongate support element so as to position the latter, once it has been opened out, above the level defined by the upper end of the burner.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the locking means comprise a bearing piece mounted, below the pivot axes (X-XI) of the bent arms, so as to rotate about the axis (Y-Y') of the said body, comprising at least three peripheral recesses angularly distributed around the axis (Y-Y') of the said body and separated by three adjacent circular bearing surfaces, the said bearing piece being able to be moved between an active, locked position, in which the bent arms in their opened-out position rest on the respective three bearing surfaces of the said bearing piece, and an inactive, unlockod position, in which the bent arms in their folded-down position partly sit in the respective three recesses of the said bearing piece.

According to one embodiment of the gas stove according to the invention, the latter includes a combustion control means, of the valve and/or pressure regulator type, as well as a heat shield for the said control means, the said shield being mounted on the body of the stQve, The advantage of the stove according to the invention lies in its compactness in the folded-down position.

Another advantage is achieved by the reliability of the locking means, which are perfectly integrated into the form of the stove, while limiting the number of components of the said stove. This is because the locking means in particular are made as a single bearing piece. It proves to be very difficult, if not impossible, for the bent arms to be unlocked accidentally.

An additional advantage of the stove according to the invention lies in its ease of use, particularly when opening out and folding down the elongate support elements which, in the op6ned-out position, form an extended cooking surface while, in the folded-down position, retain excellent compactness.

Further features and advantages will also emerge on reading the detailed description given below, with reference to the appended drawings as non-limiting examples, in which:

- Figures I and 2 show perspective views of a gas stove according to the invention in the folded-down position and in the opened-out position, respectively; - Figures 3 and 4 show front views of the stove in Figures I and 2, respectively; - Figure 5 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a gas stove according to the invention; - Figure 6 shows schematically a sectional view on the line V-V in Figure 5; and - Figure 7 shows a top view of a stove according to the invention, in the opened-out position.

In the embodiment in Figures I to 7, the reference number 2 denotes the overall body of the stove and the reference number 3 denotes a container of pressurized fuel gas, f or example a disposable container or a container for use once, such as a valve cartridge.

The body 2 of elongate general shape extending along an axis Y-Y' has a lower end 2a provided with means 50 for fitting it and connecting it in a gastight manner to a container 3 of pressurized fuel gas, 5 for example a disposable cartridge.

A duct 4 is also provided in the body 2 (Figure 5) for a fuel gas to flow from an inlet 4a. A rneans 5 for mixing primary air with the fuel gas, comprising an injector 6 for the expulsion of a jet of fuel gas, is also mounted on the body 2.

The body 2 is streamlined by an external shell 2c, obtained by moulding a plastic. The body 2 and, in paxticular, the flow of the gas of the air/gas mixture in the said body 2 are known as such.

is The gas stove according to the invention also includes a burner 7 mounted on the body 2, at the outlet of the mixing means 5. The burner 7 is joined to the body 2 by any suitable means, such as screwing.

The gas stove according to the invention includes at least three bent arms 10 angularly distributed around the axis Y-Y'. The bent arms 10 are mounted so as to pivot on the body 2 about the respective three axes X-X1 orthogonal to the axis Y-Y'.

In the example shown in the figures, each bent arm 10 is mounted on the body 2 by means of an arm support 11 mounted on the body 2 and obtained, for example, by bending a piece, for example a metal piece.

The geometrical axes X-X' are, for example, defined by pivots 12, which have end stops in order to prevent the bent arms 10 from being disconnected from their respective arm supports 11.

Each bent arm 10 has a bearing first part 10a mounted at one end on the corresponding pivot 12 and a connecting second part 10b, connecting the first part 10a to a corresponding elongate support element 10c. The connecting second part 10b defines a distance L (Figures 2 and 4, for example) between the first part 10a and the corresponding elongate support element 10c. Thus the elongate support element 10c, once it has been opened out, is positioned above the level defined by the upper end 7a of the burner 7.

According to one advantageous embodiment, each connecting second part 10b connects the corresponding elongate support element 10c, approximately at the centre, in order to enable one of the ends of each elongate support element 10c to extend, in the openedout position, at least.partly above the burner 7.

Figures 1 and 2 show the said stove in its folded-down configuration, for stowing it, arid in its opened-out configuration, for using it, respectively.

Each of the bent arms 10 having an elongate support element 10c is able to pivot between an openedout position (Figures 2, 4, 6 and 7), in which the elongate support elements 10c together define a cooking surface, and a position In which the a= are folded down towards the body 2 (Figures 1, 3 and 5) and taking up the minimum amount of space.

The stove according to the invention includes locking means 60 (enabling the bent arms 10 to be kept in their opened- out position, as shown for example in Figure 7.

The angular distribution and the angular position of the geometrical axes X-X', and consequently of the pivots 12, are such that the intersection of the geometrical extension planes, each containing a bent arm 10 with its corresponding elongate support element 10c, defines more or less an equilateral triangle in the top view (Figure 7), centred on the axis Y-Y'. The axes X-X' are preferably not radial with respect to the axis Y-Y', thereby making it possible to increase the compactness of the assembly (Figure 6).

Such a configuration of the elongate support elements 10c in the openedout position makes it possible to obtain a cooking surface which can support a cooking vessel in a balanced manner an top of the burner 7. Such a distribution also makes it possible, in the folded-down position (Figures 1, 3 and 5), to achieve the maximum compactness of the gas stove, also taking into account the adopted positions oú the locking means described below.

Furthermore, in the folded-down position, the bearing first part 10a and the connecting second part 10b are held below the burner 7 and the elongate support elements loc extend parallel to the axis Y-Y, as close as possible to the body 2, thereby helping to make the assembly compact.

In an embodiment shown, for example, in Figure 3, the elongate support elements 10C are designed, on the one hand, to extend beyond the lower end of the body 2 by a first amount a and, on the other hand, to remain set back from the upper end 7a of the burner 7 by a second amount b. It is then possible either to connect the stove to a container 3 or to rest a cooking vessel on the said stove. The latter can thus be used only in the opened-out position, consequently increasing the safety of users.

The stove according to the invention includes locking means (60) enabling the bent arms 10 to be supported and kept in their opened-out position, as shown for example in Figures 6 and 7.

The locking means comprise a bearing piece 15 mounted so as to rotate freely on the body 2, below the arm supports 11 and therefore the bent arms 10.

The bearing piece 15 is therefore momnted, below the pivot axes X-X' of the three bent arms 10, so as to rotate about the axis Y-Y' of the body 2.

The bearing piece 15 includes at least three, peripheral recesses 16 angularly distributed around the axis Y-Y1 of the body 2. These recesses 16 are separated by three adjacent circular bearing surfaces 17. The bearing piece 15 can be moved so as to rotate between an active, locked position in which the bent arms 10 in their opened-Qut position, rest on the three respective bearing surfaces 17 and an inactive, unlocked position in which the bent arms 10 in their folded-down position partly sit in the respective three recesses 16 of the said bearincl piece 15. One of the bearing surfaces 17 is advantageously provided with a circular slot through which a sparkplug 20 passes. Thus, when the bent arms 10, and in particular their first parts 10a, are housed in the respective peripheral recesses 16, the elongate support elements 10c are turned or folded down towards the body 2 and extend approximately parallel to the axis Y-Y1, making the stove remarkedly compact (Figure 1). This compactness is clearly apparent from the front view of a stove according to the invention, shown in Figure 3.

Figure 4 on the other hand shows the bent arms 10 opened out, thus enabling the elongate support elements 10c to form a cooking surface, above the burner 7.

When the bent arms 10 are opened out, that is to say when they have pivoted upwards, and when the locking means 60 have been activated, a stove in the configuration shown, for example, in Figures 2 and 4 is obtained. It is the bent arms 10, and in particular their first parts 10a, which rest on the circular bearing surfaces 17 of the bearing piece 15. It is thus possible to form a structurally stable cooking surface by means of the single bearing piece 15.

The amount that the bearing piece 15 can rotate is limited by any known means, and especially a stud 15a integral with the bearing piece 15 and projecting into a longitudinal slot lla made in one of the arm supports 11 (rigures 5 and 6).

According to one embodiment of the stove according to the invention, the latter includes a means 25 for controlling the flow of fuel gas, of the valve and/or pressure regulator type, with a control knob 63 and a heat shield 30 for the said control means 25. The shield 30 is mounted on the body 2 via the bearing piece 15. The mounting and the operation of the control means 25 are known as such, and are consequently not described in detail. The same applies to the means 50 for connecting and coupling a container 7 of pressured gas, these means being provided on the body 2.

- B An automatic ignition button 31 may also be provided on the stove according to the invention, in order to actuate a piezoelectric mechanisin and to create an ignition spark by means of an electrode 52.

The shield 30 is fastened to the bearing piece 15. According to one embodiment according to the invention, the bearing piece 15 and the shield 30 are produced as a single piece, obtained by moulding. The bearing piece 15 is advantageously made of metal.

Thus, when the bearing piece 15 rotates about the axis Y-Y' of the body 2, its rotation also causes the heat shield 30 to rotate. The extent of such a movement, limited by the slot Ila, is very small compared with the dimensions of the said shield 30, so as to thermally shield the control knob 63 in whatever rotation position of the bearing piece 15.

The heat shield 30 positioned above the control knob 63 also forms a manipulating device for rotating the bearing piece 15. The shield 30 thus makes it possible to activate or deactivate the means 60 for locking the bent arms 10. The embodiment of the stove according to the invention shown in the figures enables a gas container 3 to be mounted wit-h the mounting axis of the said stove coincident with the axis Y-Y' of the body 2 and that of the container 3. Figure I shows a sectional view along the direction V-V in Figure 5. Each bearing first part 10a of the bent arms 10 rests on the corresponding bearing 30 surface 17 of the bearing piece 15. The bent arms 10 are opened out and the beat shield 30 shields the control knob 63 from the heat emitted by the burner 7, which is not shown in this sectional view. When it is desired to turn or fold down the elongate support elements 10C along the body 2, all that is required is to pivot the heat shield 30 in the direction of the arrow F (Figure 6) along a path defined by the slot 11a. The first parts 10a of the bent arms 10 are then released from their respective 9 position in which they bear on the bearing surfaces 17, by rotation of the latter, so as to come opposite or facing the respective recesses 16.

Without departing from the scope of the present invention, a configuration of the body 2, and consequently of the duct 4 and of the means that they contain, may be envisaged so as to make a connection in a direction orthogonal to the axis Y-Y' of the body 2.

The stave according to the invention may be produced without any control means 25, but with a pipe connecting the body 2 to a device for connecting it to a container 3. The control means 25 may then be mounted on the connection device.

CT-A-IMS 1. Gas stove comprising:

- a body (2) extending along an axis (Y-Y') in which a duct (4) is provided for a fuel gas to flow from an inlet (4a) for the said pressurized gas, - a means for mixing primary air with the fuel gas, comprising an injector (6) for the expulsion of a jet of the fuel gas, - a burner (7) mounted on the body (2) at the outlet of the mixing means (5), - at least three bent arms (10) which are angularly distributed around the axis (Y-Y') and mounted so as to pivot by means of pivots (12) about three axes (X-XI) orthogonal to the axis (Y-Y'), each comprising an elongate support element (10c), the said bent arms (10) each being able to pivot between an opened-out position, in which the support elements (10c) together define a cooking surface, and a position in which each arm is folded down towards the body (2), - and locking means enabling the bent arms (10) to be kept in their opened-out position, - characterized in that:

- at least part of the burner (7) is vertically above the pivots (12), each bent arm (10) has a bearing first part (10a) mounted on the corresponding pivot (12) by one of its ends and a connecting second part (10b) which connects the corresponding elongate support element (10c), the said connecting second part (10b) defining a distance (L) between the bearing first part (10a) and the elongate support element (10c) so as to position the latter, once it has been opened out, above the level defined by the upper end (7a) of the burner (7).

Claims (1)

1. 2. Gas stove according to Claim 1, characterized in that each connecting

   second part (10b) connects the corresponding elongate support element (10c), approximately at the centre, in order to enable one of the ends of each elongate support element (10c) to - ll - extend, in the opened-out position, at least partly above the burner (7).

   3. Gas stove according to Claim I or 2, characterized in that the locking means comprise a bearing piece (15) mounted, below the pivot axes (X-XI) oE the bent arms (10), so as to rotate about the axis (Y-Y') of the said body (2), comprising at least th-ree peripheral recesses (16) angularly distributed around the axis (Y-Y') of the said body (2) and separated by three adjacent circular bearing surfaces (17), the said bearing piece (15) being able to be moved between an active, locked position, in which the bent arms (10) in their opened-out position rest on the respective three bearing -surfaces (17) of the said bearing piece (15), and an inactive, unlocked position, -in which the bent arms (10) in their folded- down position partly sit in the respective three recesses (16) of the said bearing piece (15).

   4. Gas stove according to any one of Claims 1 to 20 3, characterized in that it includes a means (25) for controlling the flow of fuel gas, of the valve and/or pressure regulator type, and a heat shield (30) for the said control means (25), the said shield (30) being mounted on the body (2).

   5. Gas stove according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the heat shield (30) is fastened to the bearing piece (15).

   6. Gas stove according to Claim 5, characterized in that the bearing piece (15) and the shield (30) are made as a single piece, obtained by moulding.

   7. Gas stove according to Claim 5 or 6, charac terized in that the heat shield (30) forms a manipulating device for rotating the bearing piece (15).

   8. Gas stove according to any one of Claims I to 7, characterized in that the axis on which thesaid stove is mounted on the container is coincident with the axis (Y-Y') of the body (2).

   9. A gas stove substantially as hereinbefore described.

   10. A gas stove substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.