IE892711A1 - A packaged combustible - Google Patents

Abstract

A combustible package for setting up a fire comprises a self-supporting structure (16) of readily ignitable material such as a wooden lattice grating structure mounted on side supporting member which provides ventilation and supports discrete pieces of a less readily ignitable longer-burning combustible material such as coal or charcoal. The coal or charcoal may be contained in a bag or lie free on the wooden lattice. Preferably there is a firelighter (17) attached beneath the wooden lattice to aid in ignition. The whole package may be contained in a cardboard box, the front of which unfolds to make the firelighter readily accessible. The cardboard box may also be ignited and does not have to be removed. The shape of the package may be adapted to fit in domestic firegrates and barbecues. Alternatively, the whole package may be wrapped in any suitable packaging material.

Description

The present invention relates to means for lighting and setting a fire, and to a packaged combustible, in particular to a pre-fabricated selfsupporting package of combustible materials which is adapted to be placed in a combustion space such as a domestic firegrate, or a barbecue grill and which may be ignited for sustained burning for a limited period of time, thus providing a pre-set or instant fire.

Many people who have the facility of firegrates in their homes find the setting of fires a chore and tend not to set fires regularly, or to keep adequate stocks of coal or other solid fuel, and sticks of wood, papers, firelighters, etc. This is often the case for people who live in rented accommodation, or for people who also possess a central heating system not requiring a solid fuel/back boiler heat source.

The invention also provides a solution to the problem of igniting charcoal in an outdoor barbecue grill.

An important aspect of the invention lies in the construction of a self-supporting pre-fabricated structure of combustible material which ignites easily such as wood, which in turn may support and contain less easily ignitable but longer-burning combustible material such as coal or charcoal.

Thus, the present invention also aims to provide a neat and convenient package containing all the combustible materials necessary for lighting a fire in a domestic firegrate or for starting a fire in closed stoves and boilers, or in a barbecue grill. The combustible materials are arranged in such a way inside the package that once placed in a ventilated combustion space and ignited, sustained burning is made possible.

According to the present invention, there is provided a pre-fabricated combustible comprising a self-supporting structure of readily ignitable material or materials which is adapted to stand and fit within a combustion space such as a firegrate, wherein the structure comprises an open-work or lattice platform structure defining ventilation passageways therethrough and adapted to support discrete pieces of a less readily ignitable longer-burning combustible material.

Most preferably, the said readily ignitable material comprises small pieces of wood arranged so as to form a grating structure supported by side supporting members of combustible material which may be wood and/or cardboard. Preferably, at least three sides of the structure are further defined by retaining walls of cardboard or the like.

Advantageously, a packaged combustible is provided comprising the said grating structure in combination with a quantity of less readily ignitable longer-burning combustible material such as coal or charcoal, which is most preferably contained within a bag or the like of combustible material adapted to be arranged on the grating structure.

Suitably, the packaged combustible is wrapped in combustible film material. Most preferably a cardboard blank is provided, which when erected is adapted to completely enclose the structure.

Advantageously, ignition-assisting means are provided in the base region of the packaged combustible, most preferably by a conventional firelighter adhered to the underside of the platform structure or to the cardboard blank.

The invention further provides a combustible package consisting of a pre-set fire comprising an elevated grating structure, a quantity of coal or charcoal placed on the grating, a firelighter held below the grating, all enveloped in a combustible packaging material, wherein the grating structure is of non-combustible material.

Preferred embodiments of a pre-fabricated wooden structure for setting a fire, and a combustible packages including this structure will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein, Figure 1 is a plan view of a pre-fabricated grating structure for use in setting a fire, Figure 2 is a front elevation of the structure of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a plan view of the cardboard member used in the structure of Figures 1 and 2, with wooden side supports attached thereto before folding, Figure 4 is a perspective view of a combustible package in accordance with a first embodiment including the grating structure of Figures 1 to 3, for use as an instant fire in a domestic firegrate, Figure 5 is a perspective view of a combustible package in accordance with a second embodiment, including an alternative grating, and shown in a partially open condition, with pieces of coal omitted for clarity, Figure 6 shows the package of Figure 5 in a closed condition, Figure 7 is a plan view of a cardboard blank for use in erecting a package as shown in Figures 5 and 6, and Figure 8 is a perspective view of a combustible package in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention, suitable for use with a barbecue.

Figures 1 to 3 illustrate a pre-fabricated grating structure 1 made from wood and cardboard as follows. Firstly, a rectangular piece of cardboard 2 is folded in two places on fold lines A-A and B-B as shown in Figure 3 to form side flaps 3 which are folded inwardly at an angle. A block of wood 4, measuring 14 cms by 4cms by 1.5 cms, for example, is stapled or glued to the inside at the base of each side flap 3 of the cardboard member 2. Four lengths of wood 5, measuring 2 cms by 1.5 cms of between 25 and 30 cms in length, for example, are laid across the blocks 4 and stapled, pinned or glued thereto to form a grating. Two lengths of wood 6, measuring 10 cms by 2 cms by 1.5 cms, for example, are laid across the lengths 5 at right angles thereto, and two further lengths of wood 7 of similar dimensions are laid lengthwise on top of the lengths 6 above spaces formed between the lengths 5 underneath, and all pieces of wood are then stapled, pinned or glued together at their intersections.

A rigid self-supporting structure is thus provided which can be placed to stand and fit within a domestic firegrate (not shown). A fire can be built on top of this structure of coal, sod peat or compressed peat briquettes. A firelighter can be placed under the wooden grating structure which provides adequate ventilation allowing the solid fuel particles time to ignite before the wooden grating structure has burned out and collapsed under their weight. It will be seen that the wooden structure described above can be used separately as a means of setting and lighting a fire in a domestic firegrate, and need not be supplied with other longer burning combustible materials.

However, in a favoured embodiment of the invention, the pre-fabricated wooden and cardboard structure as described above is included in a packaged combustible which forms in essence a pre-set fire which can be placed in a firegrate and lit to provide an instant fire, of which all the components will burn to give a fire for approximately one hour if not replenished. Such a package is illustrated in Figure 4.

A quantity of coal, preferably about 1 to 2 kgs. of low to medium quality coal such as doubles, is placed on the grating structure and contained by the cardboard retaining wall 2. If desired, peat briquettes may be used as a smokeless fuel, but this may not burn as long as coal.

A conventional firelighter 8 comprising a block of porous combustible material soaked in paraffin or the like is taped or adhered with a suitable adhesive compound to the underside of the lengths of wood 5 comprising the base of the wooden grating structure. This firelighter is optional but greatly assists in initial ignition of the package.

The firelighter may require to be wrapped in plastic film and sealed therein to avoid drying out, thus prolonging the shelf life of the packaged product.

Finally, the assembled combustible materials are enveloped in a film of plastics wrapping material or the like, or strong paper, to package the product for consumer use. Transparent packaging film material is preferred, such as polypropylene film, for example. A trade mark and instructions for use may be printed on the outside of the package. To use the product, the consumer places it on the firegrate, punctures the outer wrapping (if desired), and lights the firelighter with a match.

If no firelighter is provided, some paper may be stuffed under the wooden grating and lit. The plastic or other film wrapping material also assists in the initial ignition of the package.

The whole package can be mass-produced relatively cheaply so that consumers who wish to light a fire at home only infrequently or who find that they have run out of coal or other materials will find the packaged product attractively priced to meet their needs.

It will readily be appreciated that the wooden grating structure can be made to fit any fireplace including a barbecue, and that larger or longer-burning versions may be constructed. For example, a circular platform structure may be constructed as a pre-fabricated fire-starter pack for closed stoves and larger industrial boilers. Because of the arrangement and chosen dimensions of pieces of wood making up the grating structure, tests have shown that the coal ignites fully within 7 to 10 minutes for sustained burning before the wooden structure has had time to burn away and collapse. Thus, the preferred 3-tier design of the pieces of wood making up the grating structure is important as it ensures that there can be no premature collapse of the unlit coal and consequent smothering of the initial fire below.

Figures 5 to 7 show a second embodiment of the invention, which is similar in most respects to the packaged combustible described above with reference to Figure 4. However, instead of wrapping the wooden grating structure and providing a separate cardboard containment wall, the whole package is contained by a closable cardboard box 10, erected from a blank 11 (see Figure 7).

Panels 12, 13, 14 provide a containment wall, and panel 15 provides a base to which the wooden grating structure 16 is secured by glue. A firelighter 17 is also conveniently glued to the base panel 15, instead of being secured to the underside of the grating.

It will also be noted that the grating structure 16 comprises cross-pieces of wood 18 which are more conveniently all cut to the same length, thereby forming a rectangular grating, when viewed from above. However, the shape of the box 10 (see Figure 6) is still rhomboidal, fitting neatly within a standard domestic fireplace.

The blank 11 is erected to form box 10 by folding side extension flaps 19-22 inwardly, around base panel 15. Front panel 23 is folded upwardly and lastly wings 25 and lugs 26 are respectively inserted into slots 27 and 28, to close the box.

The box 10 may be opened by means of a tear off strip 29 formed by perforations in front panel 23, or by opening out top panel 24 and front pane] 23 as shown in Figure 5; the panel 23 may then be folded to lie underneath the base 15, with panel 24 lying behind wall 13. The package opened in this manner and set in a firegrate may then be ignited.

Figure 8 shows a third embodiment of the present invention which is suitable for use with an outdoor barbecue. A square wooden grating structure 40, which may comprise two layers of wooden sticks (as illustrated) or three, as described above with reference to Figures 1 and 2, or 5, is provided, on which a quantity of charcoal pieces or briquettes 41 are placed either directly or contained in a bag. A wrapping of combustible film material may be provided or the grating and charcoal may be placed in a cardboard carton or box. A firelighter may optionally be provided underneath the wooden grating also. Such a square grating structure and package may be made in various sizes to suit both small and large barbecues. A sufficient amount of charcoal is preferably provided to avoid the need for topping up, i.e. the package provides enough combustible materials for a single barbecue.

Claims (15)

1. A pre-fabricated combustible comprising a self-supporting structure of readily ignitable material or materials which is adapted to stand and fit within a combustion space such as a firegrate, wherein the structure comprises an open-work or lattice platform structure defining ventilation passageways therethrough and adapted to support discrete pieces of a less readily ignitable longer-burning combustible material.

2. A pre-fabricated combustible according to Claim 1 wherein the said readily ignitable material comprises small pieces of wood arranged so as to form a grating structure supported by side supporting members of combustible material.

3. A pre-fabricated combustible according to Claim 2 wherein the side supporting members comprise pieces of wood.

4. A pre-fabricated combustible according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the structure is further defined by a retaining wall of cardboard.

5. A packaged combustible comprising a structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in combination with a quantity of less readily ignitable longer-burning combustible material.

6. A packaged combustible according to Claim 5 wherein the longerburning combustible material comprises coal.

7. A packaged combustible according to Claim 5 wherein the longerburning combustible material comprises charcoal.

8. A packaged combustible according to any of Claims 5 to 7 wherein the said quantity of longer-burning combustible material is contained within a bag or the like of combustible material adapted to be arranged on the grating structure.

9. A packaged combustible according to any one of Claims 5 to 8 wrapped in a combustible film material.

10. A packaged combustible according to any one of Claims 5 to 8, completely enclosed by a cardboard box, erected from a cardboard blank.

11. A packaged combustible according to any one of Claims 5 to 10, comprising ignition-assisting means provided in the base region thereof

12. A packaged combustible according to Claim 11 wherein the ignitionassisting means comprises a conventional firelighter.

13. A packaged combustible according to any one of Claims 5 to 12, with the modification that the grating structure is made of noncombustible material.

14. A pre-fabricated combustible substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A packaged combustible substantially as described herein with reference to, and as shown in Figures 4, or Figures 5 to 7, or Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings.