Solid fuel supporting grate for fireplace
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various forms of prefabricated fireplace grates and unitary fireplace grates including some of the general structural and operational features of the instant invention heretofore have been provided such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,985,165, 3,771,511, 3,987,779, 4,161,168 and 4,215,671. However, these previously known forms of grate structures include features thereof which do not offer the improved performance of the grate of the instant invention and those previously known forms of grates which are prefabricated and may thus be marketed in collapsed or knocked-down form for assembly by the ultimate purchaser generally do not include operational characteristics which are favorable to the support of various forms of solid fuels in a fireplace. 
     Accordingly, a need exits for an improved form of knock-down fireplace grate. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The fireplace of the grate of the instant invention is constructed in a manner whereby it may be formed from a plurality of each of two individual components with 6, 8 or 10 of one component and 3 of the other components being used to form a functional fireplace grate. In this manner, and particularly in view of the fact that each of the two components used may be readily fabricated at a low cost, an extremely low cost fireplace grate may be provided. In addition, the fireplace grate is constructed in a manner whereby the width thereof may be readily increased or decreased at the time of manufacture merely by providing longer or shorter components of one type and additional or fewer pairs of components of the other type. 
     The main object of this invention is to provide an efficient fireplace grate. 
     Still another object of this invention is to provide a fireplace grate which may be marketed in a compact knock-down form and readily assembled by the ultimate purchaser of the grate. 
     Still another very important object of this invention is that it is also suitable to be used in a Heating Stove in same manner as in a fireplace. 
     Still another very important object of this invention is to provide a fireplace grate which may be readily manufactured in difference sizes. 
     A further object of this invention is to provide a fireplace grate which may be adapted for use in conjunction with various different forms of solid fireplace fuels. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a fireplace grate constructed in a manner whereby individual components thereof may be readily replaced in the event of damage thereto. 
     The final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a fireplace grate in accordance with the preceding objects and which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that is economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation. 
     These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fireplace grate constructed in the form of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2--2 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3--3 of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner in which one form of adapter may be utilized in conjunction with the fireplace grate in order to adapt the same for use with a different solid fireplace fuel. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the fireplace of the instant invention. The grate 10 includes a plurality of pairs of oppositely inclined front-to-rear reversed support members 12 and a plurality of elongated interconnecting members 14. 
     Each of the support members 12 includes a pair of generally parallel opposite end portions 16 and 18 and an angulated mid-point 20. The support members 12 of each pair of support members are reversed in front-to-rear relation and are oppositely inclined as may best seen from FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The end portions 16 are somewhat longer than the end portions 18 and the end portions 16 comprise solid fuel support arms for the fuel to be burned in an associated fireplace while the end portions 18 comprise the legs of the grate 10. 
     The upper ends of similarly inclined upper end portions 16 of the pairs of support members 12 are interconnected through the utilization of one of the elongated connecting members 14 overlapping the upper sides of the corresponding upper end portions 16 and secured thereto through the utilization of suitable fasteners 24. In addition, the horizontal mid-portions of each pair of oppositely inclined support members 12 are interconnected through the utilization of a third elongated connecting member 14 underlying and secured to at least one mid-portion 20 of each pair of support members 12 through the utilization of a fastener 28. 
     From FIG. 1 of the drawings it may be readily seen that the length of the grate 10 as measured transversely of the vertical plane in which the pairs of support members 12 are contained may be reduced by providing shorter connecting members 14 and by reducing the number of pairs of support members 12. Likewise, the length of the grate 10 may be increased by providing longer connecting members 16 and utilizing additional pairs of support members 12. 
     As may be seen by the phantom lines in FIG. 3 of the drawings, a plurality of logs 32 may be stacked within the grate 10 in an unusual fashion with a single log lowermost, a pair of front and rear intermediate height logs and a forth log uppermost cradled between the front and the rear logs. 
     If the grate 10 is to be used in conjunction with solid fuel other than logs 32 and of smaller size than the logs 32, a plurality of inserts 34 may be provided to reduce the effective space in between the upper end portions 16 of the support members 12. A single insert 34 is illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings and incliudes an upper hooked end 36 for releasable engagement with the corresponding upper connecting member 14 and angulated lower end 38 for downwardly laterally abutting the lower central connecting member 14. In this manner, the space in between adjacent upper end portions 16 of the support members 12 may be effectively reduced in order to enable the grate 10 to handle other types of fireplace solid fuel such as coal or wood scraps. 
     It will of course be appreciated that the mid-portions of each pair of support members 12 are interconnected through the utilization of suitable fasteners 40 and that the fasteners 24, 28 and 40 are all removable. Therefore, the grate 10 may be marketed in a compact disassembled state and readily assembled by the ultimate purchaser and user of the grate 10 through the utilization of simple hand tools. Further, the length of the grate 10 may be readily varied as herein above set forth and the insert 34 may be marketed as an accessory for the grate 10. 
     It is to be understood that the various members 12, 14 and 34 will be constructed of solid metal stock of generally square cross sectional shape. Further, such stock is normally straight and thus the connecting members 14 may be readily produced merely by cutting the correct length of stock in order to provide the connecting members 14. In addition, inasmuch as the support members 12 each merely have a pair of opposite bends formed therein, the support members 12 may be readily formed. 
     Further, as may be seen from FIG. 3, the upper end portions 16 are inclined substantially 45° relative to the horizontal. In this manner coals or embers dropping from a fire in the grate 10 will drop into an area bound by the lower portions 18 substantially beneath the center of the fire and the user of the grate 10 may therefore regulate the amount of heat given off by the coals or embers by distributing or covering up the same. 
     The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.