US20020185122A1

US20020185122A1 - Portable outdoor fireplace

Info

Publication number: US20020185122A1
Application number: US09/879,636
Authority: US
Inventors: Martin Bossler
Original assignee: Uniflame Corp
Current assignee: CPD Associates Inc
Priority date: 2001-06-12
Filing date: 2001-06-12
Publication date: 2002-12-12
Also published as: CN1391065A

Abstract

A portable fireplace assembly that rests upon a substrate includes a base for supporting and burning combustible material. A support frame is sized and configured to support the base, and includes one or more frame members. One or more vertical supports are provided to support the base in a vertical displacement from the substrate and include one or more generally vertical struts securable to the frame. The fireplace has one or more screen segments, being sized and configured to mount on the supports, preferably with a tab and slot mechanism. When mounted on the supports, the one or more screen segments form a cage, and are configured to surround the combustible material when the cage is formed. A lid is sized and configured to cover the cage.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a portable outdoor fireplace with a fire screen. More specifically, it relates to a portable outdoor fireplace which is easily assembled and disassembled without the use of tools. In another embodiment, the fireplace includes a cooking grill with an adjustable cooking height.

Fixed outdoor fireplaces, such as those made from brick, masonry and the like have been known for years. Concerns for the environment and the popularity of low impact camping have reduced the reliance on these structures in recent times. Portable outdoor fireplaces have recently entered the marketplace and have been well regarded. The size of these portable fireplaces is small and their structures are such that they permit them to be easily moved from one location to another. Although they may be enjoyed in a backyard, they are often used in remote locations, such as when camping, picnicking or doing other outdoor activities where it is inconvenient to carry a variety of tools. The ability to be able to assemble and disassemble the fireplace without the use of tools would be a desirable quality in this type of equipment. So-called, “knock-down” construction is known in the art as a means for making an apparatus that meets this criteria.

On such outings, it is often desirable to prepare a meal in the outdoors and it would be convenient to utilize the same equipment for cooking. Cooking temperatures inside a grill are not easily varied, and in a remote setting, it may be inconvenient to remove a burning log to reduce the cooking temperature. It would, therefore, be useful to be able to adjust the height of the cooking grill from the fire to prevent burning of the food if the cooking fire is too hot. Portable outdoor fireplaces are known to have grills upon which to cook, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,788 to Bach et al., but the cooking height is fixed and provides no means of regulating the amount of heat supplied to the cooking grill.

The prior art also teaches the use of outdoor cookers, but without the features of an outdoor fireplace. U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,138 to Vos, or U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,829 to Taylor et al., for example, each show a variable height grill suspended from a tripod that may be placed over a campfire. However, neither of these references utilizes a screen to contain burning wood or sparks from the fire as is commonly provided by a portable outdoor fireplace.

Use of this equipment in the outdoors also exposes it to weather and other damaging elements. Although many of the surfaces are supplied with a protective coating, such as porcelain, it is expensive to coat all surfaces in such a manner. It would be desirable to provide a secure area for storage of uncoated surfaces in a manner that would provide protection from the elements or accidental damage.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved outdoor fireplace that is easily assembled and disassembled without the use of tools.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved outdoor fireplace having a cooking grill wherein the distance between the fire and the cooking grill is adjustable.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved outdoor fireplace may be collapsed for storage in such a manner to protect portions of the fireplace that may be susceptible to exposure to weather.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects are met or exceeded by the present invention which features a portable outdoor fireplace of knock-down construction. In one embodiment, the screens are easily mounted to struts by use of a tab and slot arrangement. Another feature is an optional cooking grill with adjustable height. Yet another feature is a screen segment that includes at least one access door, that is mountable interchangeably with any other screen segment. A still further feature is an optional grill ash catcher which is mountable to the fireplace base.

More specifically, the present invention provides a portable fireplace assembly including a base for supporting and burning combustible material. A support frame is sized and configured to support the base, and includes one or more frame members. One or more vertical supports support the base in a vertical displacement from a substrate and include at least one generally vertical strut securable to the frame and preferably having one or more slots. The fireplace has one or more screen segments, each being mountable on struts and preferably having one or more tabs. In the preferred embodiment, the tabs are placed, sized and configured to matingly engage the slots on the struts. When mounted on the struts, the one or more screen segments form a cage, and are configured to surround the combustible material when the cage is formed. In the preferred embodiment, a lid is sized and configured to cover the cage.

In another embodiment, the lid is convertible from a fireplace lid in a first position to a secure, collapsible enclosure lid in a second position. Dimples and openings on the lid are associated with each of the struts. The first position is defined wherein the struts are engaged with the corresponding dimples to hold the lid in place covering the cage. The second position is defined wherein each of the struts is slidably engaged with the corresponding opening to allow the lid to contact the base.

Yet another embodiment describes two or more screen segments mountable on the struts and forming a cage when mounted on the struts. The cage is configured to surround the combustible material. At least one of the screen segments includes at least one door that is interchangeably mountable on the struts with any other of the screen segments.

The outdoor fireplace of the present invention has many advantages over the prior art. As it is built of knock-down construction, the fireplace is easily assembled and disassembled in remote areas without tools, for example by friction fit of the struts and frame members and by fitting tabs on the screen segments into slots on the struts.

When the unit is disassembled for storage, the side screen segments are easily removed, and fit inside the bowl of the fireplace. Protection of the screen segments from exposure to weather and accidental damage is provided by the lid, whereby the openings allow the lid to drop down and slide along the struts to rest on the bowl, storing the screen segments in the space between the lid and the bowl.

Cooking in the fireplace is easier than with prior art units because the cooking height is adjustable. If the fire is too hot or too cool, adjustment in cooking temperature is easily accomplished by varying the distance of the cooking surface from the fire. The cooking temperature is variable even with the screen segments in place, providing better containment of sparks and ash, particularly on a windy day.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of the assembled fireplace; [0016]
FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view showing the ash receiver, sand trap and mounting bracket; [0017]
FIG. 2A is a cross section of the ash receiver mounting bracket seen along line [0018] 2A of FIG. 2;
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the fireplace; [0019]
FIG. 4 is a detail of the tab and slot for mounting the screen segments to the struts; [0020]
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the fireplace with the lid in the storage position and the screen segments stored in the space formed by the bowl and the lid; [0021]
FIG. 6 is a detail of the lid with the struts resting in the dimples; [0022]
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cooking assembly mounted over the fireplace bowl; and [0023]
FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the embodiment of FIG. 7.[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred portable outdoor fireplace of the present invention, generally designated [0025] 10, resting on a substrate 12. The fireplace 10 has a base 14 that is designed for supporting and burning combustible material therein. Most commonly, such fireplaces 10 are used to burn wood. However, the fireplace 10 of the present invention is not limited to the burning of wood. Any combustible material may be burned in the base 14 of the fireplace, including, but not limited to wood, charcoal or gas logs, the latter fueled by a supplemental supply of natural gas. A gas starter is optionally used to aid in starting wood or charcoal without the use of kindling, lighter fluid and the like. Preferably, the base 14 is disk or bowl-shaped, as this shape is convenient for reflecting heat upward, yet allowing ash to fall down the sides of the bowl and collect in the bottom of the base.
Tilting the entire unit and pouring the ash into an appropriate receptacle for disposal is one method of removing ash and unburned materials that remain in the [0026] base 14 after the fire. However, preferably there is an ash removal opening 16 (FIG. 7) provided in the bottom of the base 14 to simplify removal of unwanted materials from the base. If the base 14 has a concave shape, it is preferable to place the ash removal opening 16 at the lowest portion of the curve, since it is that area which will tend to collect ash and debris that falls down from the fire.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 2A, to collect the ash, the [0027] present fireplace assembly 10 optionally includes an ash receiver 18 descendably mountable to said base 14 in general alignment with the ash removal opening 16. Generally, an inexpensive metal, cylindrical container serves well as the ash receiver 18 because they are easy to manufacture. To regulate the flow of combustion air to the fire, the ash receiver preferably includes multiple air vents 19. An air vent controller 20, preferably an apertured ring which selectively blocks the vent 19, optionally controls increasing or decreasing the amount of combustion air. The shape of the ash receiver 18 is not important as long as the container is large enough to cover the ash removal opening 16 and is configured to be held by an ash receiver mounting bracket 21 on the base 14. Any material may be used to construct the ash receiver 18, as long as it will withstand the temperature of hot ash and small burning embers from the fire. Metal, especially when coated with a protective coating such as porcelain, or other ceramic coating, is preferred. A handle 22 is preferably mounted on the ash receiver with standoffs 24 as insulation to simplify emptying of the ash receiver 18 when hot.
The [0028] ash receiver 18 may be mounted to the base 14 by any means known in the art. The ash receiver mounting bracket 21 is preferably located on the convex side of the base 14, in a position to align the ash receiver 18 with the ash removal opening 16. Most preferably, the mounting bracket 21 is configured to slidingly accommodate the engagement of a radically extending flange or rim 26 on the ash receiver 18 with the ash receiver mounting bracket 21, having a Z-channel shape. The rim 26 may include straight edges 27, best seen in FIG. 3, to better engage with the ash receiver mounting bracket 21.
At combustion temperatures, any moisture that may be present, as from the wood or humidity in the air, will rapidly oxidize an unprotected iron or steel surface. Therefore, the surface of the [0029] base 14 is frequently coated with a protective material, such as porcelain or other ceramic coating, to protect the base 14 from oxidation due to weather or the fires contained therein. When the base 14 is coated, the user optionally places sand in the base 14 as an insulator under the fire to protect the finish and keep it looking new.
Referring again to FIG. 2, to prevent the sand from falling through the ash removal opening [0030] 16 or filling up the ash receiver 18, the fireplace assembly 10 optionally includes a sand trap, generally designated 30, sized and configured to be removably engaged by on the base 14 to close the ash removal opening 16. The sand trap 30 preferably includes a paddle 32 that is sized and configured to cover the ash removal opening 16, and an insulating handle 34 to permit removal of the paddle in a convenient manner.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 2A, a sand trap mounting bracket is located on the convex side of the base [0031] 14 to hold the sand trap 30 in place during use. Most preferably, a single bracket performs the function of both the ash receiver mounting bracket 21 and the sand trap mounting bracket, and is sized and configured to hold both the ash receiver 18 and the sand trap 30 simultaneously. To achieve this goal, each of the sand trap 30, the ash receiver 18 and the mounting bracket 21 are sized and configured so that the sand trap 30 and the ash receiver 18 will be held in the mounting bracket 21 at the same time, and also so that either the sand trap 30 or the ash receiver 18 can be removed, while leaving the other in place. This allows maximum flexibility for the user and conserves space. Specifically, in the preferred embodiment, the bracket 21 includes inward projections, beneficially displaced flanges or shelves 38 for receiving each of the ash receiver 18 and the sand trap paddle 32.
Turning to FIGS. 1 and 3, the [0032] base 14 is supported by one or more legs 40 that are held in place by a support frame, generally designated 42. One or more frame members 44 hold the legs 40 spaced apart, stabilizing the grill assembly 10. The legs 40 support the base 14, vertically displacing it from the substrate 12. Holding the base 14 off the substrate 12 not only protects the substrate from the heat of the fire, but also holds the base 14 at a more convenient height for the user to tend the fire.
The [0033] legs 40 may optionally be sized and configured to accept wheels 46, with or without an axle 47, for ease in moving the fireplace unit 10 from one place to another. Instead of wheels, preferably two of the legs 40 may be fitted with pads 48 that provide additional surface area in contact with the substrate 12. The pads 48 distribute the weight of the fireplace 10 more evenly on mud or soft ground. It is also possible to configure the pads 48 and the legs 40 with threads suitable for making minor adjustments in the overall length of the leg 40 with the pad 48 to level the fireplace 10 on an uneven substrate 12.
The [0034] fireplace 10 of the present invention also includes one or more generally vertical struts or strut portions 50 securable to the support frame 42. Although the legs 40 and the struts 50 are referenced separately by function for convenience, it is to be understood that they are preferably part of a single generally vertical support 40, 50 but may be physically separate, if suitable. As shown in FIG. 3, for example, the leg 40 is one end of a bar or pipe in contact with the substrate 12, while the strut portion 50 is the opposite end of the same unit, farthest away from the substrate 12. As referenced in this discussion, the leg 40 is the portion of the generally vertical support between the substrate 12 and the support frame 42, and the strut portion 50 that portion of the generally vertical support that is above (when oriented as in FIG. 3) the support frame 42. It is also contemplated that the generally vertical support 40, 50 is optionally constructed of a plurality of segments (not shown), such as when two segments are threaded or otherwise fastenable together to make the unitary vertical support.
Regardless of the configuration of the [0035] legs 40 and the struts 50, they are spaced apart by the support frame 42 and the frame members 44. The support frame 42 may be connected to the legs 40 and the struts 50 by any suitable means. In the preferred embodiment, this feature is achieved by providing a lower bracket 53 provided in two halves, each with a male frustoconical section shape and an inner semicircular shape that engages the vertical supports 40, 50. The support frame 42 has at least two corners, each corner having a tubular female frusto-conical section shape 54 and being configured to receive and securely engage a pair of bracket halves 53. This type of system is disclosed for suspending wire shelves in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,757,705 and 3,523,508, which are incorporated by reference herein. In the preferred configuration, the frame members 44 are of equal length, spacing the legs 40 and struts 50 equidistantly around the base 12.
The [0036] struts 50 have fittings 56 for attachment of screen segments 60. Preferably, the fittings 56 are such that no tools are required for their use, such as slots upon which the screen segments 60 hang (FIG. 4). Each fitting 56 may be an integral part of the corresponding strut 50, as when the slot is cut directly in to the strut 50, or the fitting may be a separate piece that is affixed to the strut, a screen bracket including a slot. In the most preferred fitting 56, there are a plurality of rows of axially displaced slots in each strut 50, allowing a plurality of screen segments 60 to be mounted to the same strut 50.
Another preferred option, shown in FIG. 3, utilizes at least one stabilizing member, generally designated [0037] 64, upon which the base 14 rests. Generally, the legs 40 support the base 14 by any method known in the art. Use of the stabilizing members 64 adds additional support to the fireplace 10 preventing it from flexing from side to side. The stabilizing members 64 also provide a place upon which a rim 66 of the base 14 rests, bearing the weight of the base 12 and holding it in place by gravity. Apertures 67 in the rim 66 are in registry with, and are slidably engageable upon the vertical supports 40, 50. The stabilizing members 64 are attached to the struts 50, preferably by the same types of fasteners 53 and tubular female frusto conical shapes 54 as the support frame 42. Alternative attachment constructions are contemplated, but knock-down assembly (without tools) is preferred. An insulating handle 70 is optionally attached to either the base frame 64 or the support frame 42 to allow movement of the fireplace 10, needed while the unit is still warm.
Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, as the [0038] screen segments 60 are preferably constructed of screen cloth 72 made of fire resistant material, with a connector 74 made to matingly engage the corresponding slot fitting 56 on each of the struts 50. One or more of the screen segments 60 attach to the struts 50 to form a cage 76 around the base 12, acting to contain hot ash or sparks from the fire. The screen segments 60 are attached to the struts 50, preferably hanging from the struts, and are not supported by the base 14. Metal is the preferred construction material for the screen segments 60 for several reasons. It is a relatively inexpensive raw material, and is easily shaped into a screen. The screen 72 must not have gaps small enough to disrupt the supply of combustion air to the fire when the screen segments 60 are in place.
A metal border or [0039] frame 80 preferably surrounds the screen 72 to better hold its shape or to simplify mounting of the connectors 74. As an attachment or as an integral part of the screen segment 60, the connector 74 will often, but not necessarily be constructed of the same material as the screen 72. The connector 74 is placed, sized and configured to matingly engage the fitting 56 on one of the struts 50. When the preferred slot 56 is used, the connector 74 preferably takes the shape of a tab that fits into the slot and allows the screen segment 60 to fall somewhat so that the tabs are securely held within the slots. Since the screen segment 60 attaches to a plurality of struts 50, generally, at least two multiple sets of connectors 74 are provided on each side of the screen segment 60, preferably on the frame 80. It is also contemplated that the tab connector 74 is located on the strut 50 and the slot 56 is located on the frame 80.
One or more of the [0040] screen segments 60 include at least one door 82 shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. Use of the door 82 facilitates adding wood and tending the fire without requiring removal of the screen segments 60, which may be hot. Any style door 82 may be used. One simple style of the door 82 includes a framed portion of the screen 72 that has a hinge 84 (FIG. 4), allowing it to swing, and a latch 86 that holds the door 82 closed. In the preferred embodiment, two such doors 82 are provided, however a single door 82 is also contemplated. Other door configurations are contemplated depending on the application.
In the preferred embodiment, the [0041] screen segments 60, including the one which houses the doors 82, are interchangeably mountable on any pair of adjacent struts 50 with any other of the screen segments. When the struts 50 are equally spaced apart, and the screen segments 60 are all the same size, the process of assembling the fireplace unit 10 is simplified. Interchangeability of the screen segments 60 allows the user to choose any segment 60 and attach it to any adjacent struts 50. Thus, an advantage of the present fireplace 10 is that, when assembling the unit, there is no need to search for certain screen segments 60 that must be installed between any two particular struts 50.
The [0042] fireplace 10 further includes a lid 90 that is sized and configured to cover the cage 76. Although the lid 90 need not be any particular shape, a dome shape is particularly suitable and is preferred. One important feature of the present fireplace 10 is the ability to convert the lid 90 from a fireplace lid in a first position, seen best in FIG. 6, to a secure, collapsible enclosure lid in a second position shown in FIG. 5. If the lid 90 is in use while a fire is burning, it is an important safeguard for containing sparks and flying ash within the cage 76 shown in FIG. 1. The first position is defined by the lid 90 covering the cage 76. A plurality of circumferentially spaced, dome-shaped dimples 92 are preferably located on the lid 90 and are used as locators. When preferably blunt, radiused upper ends 93 of the struts 50 rest in the dimples 92, the lid 90 is secure on the top of the cage 76.
The second position (FIG. 5) is defined by the [0043] lid 90 being in contact with the base 14. The lid 90 is placed in the second position for storage only when there is no fire and when the screen segments are detached. It is, therefore, not critical that there be a sealing contact between the lid 90 and the base 14. However, to provide optimum protection from weather in the storage, or second, position, the lid 90 preferably has a diameter sufficient to extend to the edge of the base 14 or beyond it so that water does not run under the lid 90 and settle in the bottom of the base 14.
To be placed in the second position in contact with the [0044] base 14, the lid 90 and the struts 50 must cooperate so that the position of the struts 50 does not block movement of the lid 90 to that position. Referring to FIG. 4, when the lid 90 is wide enough to completely cover the cage 76, as in the preferred embodiment, the lid 90 has lid openings 94 configured and disposed for slidably and matingly engaging one of the struts 50. This allows the lid 90 to move downward toward the substrate 12 and contact the base 14 as shown in FIG. 5. It is preferred that the lid openings 94 are each located adjacent a corresponding dimple 92, and all are located on the same sides of each corresponding dimple.
When the preferred bowl-and dome-shapes are used, and the lid is axially rotated, and placed in the second position, the [0045] base 14 and the lid 90 form a cavity that may be used for storage purposes. For protected storage when not in use, the screen segments 60 are removed from the struts 50 and placed inside the base 14 (best seen in FIG. 5), the lid 90 is then lowered to the second position, covering the screen segments. When use of the fireplace 10 is desired, the lid 90 is removed, screen segments 60 are affixed to the struts 50, and the lid 90 is replaced in the first position.
Referring now to FIG. 7, the present fireplace is also suitable for cooking when the optional grill assembly, generally designated [0046] 100, is used. A cooking grate 102 is held over the fire by a rack, generally designated 104. The cooking grate 102 is sized and configured to fit within the cage 76 while holding a quantity of food to be cooked. Preferably, the height of the cooking grate 102 is adjustable to a plurality of distances from the base 14. One way of adjusting the cooking height is by adjusting the length of a suspending line 106 to which the grate is connected. The suspending line 106 is made of any material suitable for use in a fireplace, with a metal chain being the most preferred. Attachment of the suspending line 106 to the cooking grate 102 preferably occurs at multiple points to promote stability of the cooking grate 102.
Referring to FIG. 8, stability of the [0047] cooking grate 102 is improved by the optional addition of one or more locating fingers 108 and stop plates 110. The locating fingers 108 are projections from the cooking grate 102 that engage with one of the struts 50 to minimize rotation of the cooking grate about the suspending line 106. Preferably, two pair of locating fingers 108 are placed on opposite sides of the cooking grate 102, and slide easily along the length of the strut 50 as the cooking grate 102 is raised or lowered. The number and arrangement of the fingers may vary to suit the application. The stop plates 110 are projections mounted to one or more of the struts 50 or the rack 104 that define the lowest recommended cooking position for the cooking grate 102 above the fire, allowing the grate to rest in a level position.
The [0048] rack 104 is mountable to and supported by one or more of the struts 50 as shown in FIG. 7. Preferably, the rack 104 is slidably and matingly engaged with the struts 50 so that it is assembled and disassembled without using tools of any kind. To this end, the preferably tubular rack 104 has a pair of sockets 109 which are configured to matingly engage a corresponding pair of the struts 50 by sliding over the upper ends 93. Height and size of the rack 104 are not important, so long as it is high enough to hold the cooking grate 102 a sufficient height above the base 14 to prevent burning of the food, and the unit should be strong enough to support the weight of the cooking grate 102 loaded with food. The rack 104 preferably allows for the adjustable height of the cooking grate 102. For example, the preferred rack includes a bar 112 rotatably engaged in the rack 104, and having a handle 114 forming a windlass, however other means of changing the height of the cooking grate 104 are contemplated.
It will therefore be evident that the portable [0049] outdoor fireplace 10 as described herein is easily assembled or disassembled without the use of tools. The featured structure has struts 50 that hold screen segments 60 which are easily removed for protective storage between the base 14 and the lid 92. The optional grill assembly 100 allows the fireplace 10 to be used for cooking at an adjustable height from the cooking fire. However, it is contemplated that a basic fireplace 10 may be provided which lacks one or more of the ash receiver 18, the sand trap 30 and the grill assembly 100.
While a particular embodiment of the present portable outdoor fireplace has been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the invention in its broader aspects and as set forth in the following claims. [0050]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A portable fireplace assembly comprising:

a base for supporting and burning combustible material therein;

a support frame being sized and configured to support said base, and comprising one or more frame members;

at least one vertical support supporting said base in a vertical displacement from a substrate;

one or more screen segments, and being mountable on said vertical supports; said one or more screen segments forming a cage when mounted on said supports, and being configured to surround the combustible material when said cage is formed; and

said screen segments being securable to said struts by a tab and slot mechanism.

2. The fireplace assembly of claim 1 wherein said vertical supports are each provided with at least one of said slots, and each said segment is provided with at least one of said mating tabs for engaging a corresponding one of said slots.

3. The fireplace assembly of claim 1 further comprising a grill assembly supported by one or more of said supports, said grill assembly comprising:

a cooking grate;

a rack that is mountable to said vertical supports; and

said cooking grate is suspended from said rack.

4. The fireplace assembly of claim 3, wherein said cooking grate is adjustable to a plurality of distances from said base.

5. The fireplace assembly of claim 4, wherein said rack includes a windlass.

6. The fireplace assembly of claim 1, wherein said vertical support includes a strut and a leg, said support frame further comprises a plurality of leg fittings and a plurality of strut fittings.

7. The fireplace assembly of claim 1, wherein each said vertical support includes a leg and a strut, and is configured to be made of one of a single component and two or more components joined together.

8. The fireplace assembly of claim 1, further including a lid configured to cover said cage, wherein said lid is convertible from a fireplace lid in a first position to a secure, collapsible enclosure lid in a second position, said first position being defined by said lid covering said cage, and said second position being defined by said lid being in contact with said base.

9. The fireplace assembly of claim 8 further comprising dimples and openings on said lid corresponding to each of said struts, wherein each of said struts engage said corresponding dimple to hold said lid in place covering said cage in said first position, and wherein each of said struts slidably engage said corresponding opening allowing said lid to contact said base with said struts engaging said openings.

10. The fireplace assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of said one or more screen segments includes at least one door.

11. The fireplace assembly of claim 9, wherein said at least one screen segment including at least one door is interchangeably mountable on said struts with said other screen segments.

12. The fireplace assembly of claim 1 further comprising an ash removal opening in said base.

13. The fireplace assembly of claim 12 further comprising a sand trap sized and configured to be removedly engaged on said base to close said opening.

14. The fireplace assembly of claim 12 further comprising an ash receiver mountable to said base over said ash removal opening.

15. The fireplace assembly of claim 14 further comprising a sand trap sized and configured to mountably engage said base over said ash removal opening with said ash receiver in place.

16. A portable fireplace assembly for containing a fire comprising:

a base for supporting and burning combustible material therein;

a support frame being sized and configured to support said base, comprising one or more frame members;

one or more vertical supports each including a leg and a strut, each of said legs supporting said base in a vertical displacement from the substrate;

one or more screen segments mountable on said vertical supports and forming a cage when mounted on said supports, said cage being configured to surround the combustible material; and

a lid convertible from a fireplace lid in a first position to a secure, collapsible enclosure lid in a second position, said lid comprising dimples and openings on said lid corresponding to each of said struts, said first position being defined wherein said struts are engaged with said corresponding dimples to hold said lid in place covering said cage, said second position being defined wherein each of said supports is slidably engaged with said corresponding opening to allow said lid to contact said base.

17. The fireplace assembly of claim 16 further comprising a grill assembly supported by one or more of said struts, said grill assembly comprising:

a cooking grate;

an adjustable length suspending line; and

a rack that is mountable to said struts and supports said cooking grate and said suspending line, whereby the cooking temperature is varied by adjusting the height of said cooking grate from the fire.

18. The fireplace assembly of claim 17, wherein said cooking grate is suspended from said rack.

19. The fireplace assembly of claim 18, wherein said cooking grate includes a plurality of locating fingers that minimize rotation of said cooking grate.

20. The fireplace assembly of claim 19, further comprising a plurality of stop plates to prevent said cooking grate from descending below a lowest recommended cooking position.

21. The fireplace assembly of claim 16, wherein said support frame further comprises a plurality of leg fittings and a plurality of strut fittings, each of said legs being sized and configured to engage one of said leg fittings, each of said struts being sized and configured to engage one of said strut fittings.

22. The fireplace assembly of claim 16, wherein one or more pieces directly connect to each other to form a unitary member comprising said leg and said strut.

23. The fireplace assembly of claim 16, wherein said struts further comprise slots and said screen segments further comprise tabs that are sized and configured for mounting said screen segments to said struts.

24. The fireplace assembly of claim 16 having at least two legs, and further comprising at least one wheel rotatably mounted to at least one of said legs.

25. The fireplace assembly of claim 24, wherein said at least one screen segment comprising a door is interchangeably mountable on said struts with said other screen segments.

26. The fireplace assembly of claim 21, wherein said frame members attach to said legs with a bracket having a female frusto-conical shape.

27. The fireplace assembly of claim 21, wherein said legs and said struts comprise a unitary vertical support.

28. The fireplace assembly of claim 16 further comprising an ash receiver mountable to said base over an ash removal opening.

29. The fireplace assembly of claim 28, wherein said ash receiver further comprises a plurality of air vents and a controller to regulate the amount of combustion air.

30. A portable fireplace assembly that rests upon a substrate, comprising:

a base for supporting and burning combustible material therein;

one or more legs, each of said legs supporting said base in a vertical displacement from the substrate;

a plurality of generally vertical struts securable to said frame;

a plurality of screen segments mountable on said struts and forming a cage when mounted on said struts, said cage being configured to surround the combustible material, and at least one of said screen segments configured to form at least one door and being interchangeably mountable on said struts with any other of said screen segments; and,

a lid that is sized and configured to cover said cage.