Camp stove
The present invention relates to a camp stove having a grate and removable cooking plate with contoured support plates adapted to support the Camp Stove over a camp fire at at least one height or folded over to secure the removable cooking plate in a stored relation. The Camp Stove has a handle for readily carrying in the collapsed position. A latching strap with a latching pin locks the support plates in place in the raised or lowered position. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Heretofore various camp stoves and grills or the like have been proposed which provide portability to camp stoves, barbecue grills and the like. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,474,646 of A. W. Steen, patented Nov. 20, 1923, illustrates a tear down camp stove where the stove is completely disassembled into numerous flat metal plates. Thus, it is a knockdown stove which requires assembling and disassembling every time it is used. Other cooking grills have been proposed such as the one in U.S. Pat. No. 2,631,579 to Metzger, issued Mar. 17, 1953 which provides a portable cooking grill with pivotal metal plates that can be used either as a windbreaker or a skillet for meat and the like. The grill is held in place by four stake-like legs located at the corners. Such an arrangement has the disadvantage of not providing windbreak and cooking surface at the same time and obviously the legs must penetrate the surrounding terrain to provide support. U.S. Pat. No. 4,475,528 issued Oct. 9, 1984 to Gary W. Kerchinbroad describes a folding grill with detachable and storable legs. 
     It is apparent that the prior grills and portable cooking apparatus are of somewhat frail construction and require disassembling for storage or require a penetrable surface to secure in place such as necessary in Metzger. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In general, the present invention provides a portable and sturdy camp stove or grill, collapsible or foldable, as a compact self-form carrier which in use affords an optional grate or cooking plate surface of adjustable height above the camp fire. The camp stove includes hinged end plates that form four point footing which are locked by a positive latching mechanism in various positions for maintaining the desired height above the camp fire and also in the stored position. 
     It is therefor an object of the invention to provide a camp stove or grill which may be quickly and readily be set up for use over a campfire either as a grate for barbecue type grilling or with a cooking plate for cooking with pots and pans. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a collapsible camp stove or grill with hinged plates forming a pair of legs with cutouts which provide four points which touch the terrain for easier levelling. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a portable camp stove or grill with simple latching straps which secure end plate legs in various use or storage positions. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a camp stove or grill with end plate legs secured to teardrop shaped hinge plates attached to the grate frame which allows more flexibility in height adjustment and the stored position. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a camp stove or grill having a removable cooking plate which is secured in the stored position by the end plate legs folding on top thereof and held in place by the latching straps. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following specifications and claims in conjunction with the appended drawings: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a view in prospectus of the Camp Stove or grill in the operating position with the cooking plate removed. 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the grate or Camp Stove or grill with the cooking plate removed. 
     FIG. 3 is an end view of the Camp Stove or grill in FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the cook stove or grill in FIG. 2 illustrating the teardrop hinges on the end plate legs. 
     FIG. 5 is a prospectus view of the cooking plate which removably seats on the Camp Stove or grill in FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 6 is a half side view illustrating the teardrop hinge with the Camp Stove or grill in the folded position for transporting. 
     FIG. 7 is a detailed view of the teardrop hinge and Camp Stove or grill latching mechanism. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates the end plate in its most upright locked position for supporting the Camp Stove or grill over a campfire. 
     FIG. 9 is a prospectus view illustrating the Camp Stove or grill in the stored and carrying position with the cooking plate secured to the grate by the end plate legs in the stored and locked position of the hinge strap. 
     It will be understood that the above drawing illustrates merely a preferred embodiment of the invention and that other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the claims hereinafter set forth. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the Camp Stove or grill 10 has a rectangular grate 1 having cross-sectional members which provide onmi-directional strength to the grate 1 and is held in a frame 2 which has a center brace 3. The grate 1 is preferable made with flat expanded metal, thus of lighter weight and greater strength. Of course, any suitable material may be used without departing from the scope of my invention. The frame 2 has attached handle 4 at one side of frame 2 which is attached through apertures 5 in the frame 2 such that the handle 4 may be pushed in flush against the side of frame 2 or extended to provide gripping space between the handle 4 and the frame 2. The grill 10 contains end plate legs 6 which are mounted to frame 2 by teardrop hinges 7 which are pivotally secured to hinge pins 8 which are affixed to frame 2 by welding or other suitable means. The teardrop hinges contain apertures 9a and 9b and the frame 2 contains apertures 11a and 11b which accommodate latch pins 12 of latching strap 13. Latching strap 13 is pivotally secured to frame 2 by studs 14. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, cooking plate 15 has in its center a hinged handle 16 which folds down to be out of the way when cooking on the cooking plate. The cooking plate has three various size apertures 17 which provide an open area for placing a pan or a pot on the cooking plate, thus when in use, exposing the bottom of the utensils to direct heat from the fire without exposing the remainder of the cooking utensils or the cook to open flames from the fire through grate 1 or the apertures 17. Three such apertures 17 are illustrated, however, more or less of different sizes could be used without departing from the scope of the invention. Optionally, the cooking plate could be made of a flat plate without apertures. When the cooking plate 15 is not being used for cooking purposes as just described, it may be placed on either side of the cook stove 10 to reduce exposure of the camp fire to wind. 
     Referring to FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9, the end plate leg hinge functions will be described. The frame 2 has upper and lower apertures 11a and 11b respectively, which control the height of the cook stove above the campfire by supporting end plate legs 6 in the most upright position when the latching pin 12 is passed through aperture 9a of the teardrop hinge 7 and latched into upper aperture 11a in frame 2. Likewise, when the latching pin 12 is inserted through aperture 9a in teardrop hinge 7 into aperture 11b in frame 2, as shown in FIG. 7, the Camp Stove is at the lowest level. 
     Referring particularly to FIG. 9, it will be noted that with cooking plate 15 retained in the folded grill, the latching pin 12 is inserted through aperture 9b and into aperture 11a of frame 2, the end plate legs 6 retain cooking plate 15 against the grate 1. 
     It will be appreciated that various changes and modification may be made in the above described camp stove without departing from the scope of the invention which is limited only by the scope of the following claims.