US1866931A - Charcoal block - Google Patents

Description

July 12, 1932. I G. F. HEFFERNAN, JR 1,865,931

CHARCOAL BLOCK Filed Feb. 25. 1931 Patented July 12, 1932 GEORGE F. HEFFERNAN, JR., OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI CHARCOAL BLOCK Application filed February 25, 1931. serial No. 518,141.

This invention relates to charcoal blocks and an object of the invention is to provide a charcoal block designed and adapted for use in censers and for other purposes to which such devices may be satisfactorily applied, and comprising a body of combustible material supporting an ignition device that will readily be ignited by friction and will thereby'ignite the block.

Another object of the invention is to provide a block of combustible material for the uses indicated and comprising meansV for ig-v niting the block speedily and wit-hout diiiiculty,v and means for distributing on the block incense usually used in ceremonials in which these devices are employed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved combustible device designed and adapted to be burned in a censer and having means facilitating the passage of air to the underside of the block seated upon the bottom of the censer.

Various yother objects and advantages of the device will be apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. l is a sectional view of the device in a censer used in religious ceremonials.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device removed from the censer.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view.

Fig. 5 is a. sectionalview on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the block on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

The invention shown comprises a circular body l of combustible substance. These blocks are usually called charcoalv blocks even though they may include other ingredients or constituents.

The body 1 is designed and adapted to be placed in a censer 2 for combustion and used in religious ceremonials. The censer shown is of familiarv construction and encloses a removable bowl 3 in which the combustible block is placed'and in which the combustible body is contained during combustion.'

The upper side of the body 1 is concave and the lower side is convex. The upper side of the block is formed with a series of radial ribs 4L having their inner ends in connection with an annular rib 5. These ribs 4. divide the upper concave surfaceof the block into segment-al spaces that are designed, and adapted to receive and retain incense delivered thereto during combustion of the block and during the performance of the ceremonials. These ribs expeditethe ignition of the body from the ignition device, and they also serve to spread the incense that is dropped on the body during combustion.

The annular rib 5 surrounds a hole 6 that tapers downwardly and encloses an ignition `device 7 that will be readily ignited by friction or rubbing in the manner in which a match is ignited by friction or rubbing. The upper end of the ignition device projects above the ribs 4l and 5 so that said ignition device may conveniently be subjected to rubbing or friction and thereby ignited while the device is in the censer, as shown in Fig. l. The protruding end of the ignition device prevents the incense from smothering the fire at the ignition device 7 and causes the incense to spread onto the body l.v It is a familiar fact that the top portion 8 of the censer iS removable so as to permit access to the inside of the censer. Accordingly, the top portion 8 may beraised to permit the application of friction to the ignition device 7 in order to ignite the same and which will continueto burn until the body is ignited.

The ribs land 5 projecting upwardly above the upper surface of the body become readily ignited and, because they are somewhat attenuated, they facilitate and expedite ignition of the body 1 at spaced. points. f

The lower corner of the body l is rounded as indicated at 9 so as to Seat properly upon the bottom of the bowl 3. -A number of radial grooves l0 are formed in the underside ofthe body l and have their inner ends opening into a circular cavity 11.

The grooves 10 and the cavity l1 permit these devices to be stacked one upon the other, the-grooves l() receiving the ribs and the cavity 11 receiving the iUnition device 7 and the rib 5. Thus, the bloc s can be stacked closely together, the convex lower wall of each block nesting in the concave upper side of the subjacent block. Accordingly, the blocks may be stacked so as to occupy aminimum amount of space when kept in stock or when shipped.

In use, the block is placed in thecenser in the manner and in the location shown in Fig. 1 and may be lighted easily by application of friction to the ignition device 7. While in the censer, the block is protected from winds and air currents so that there is no diiiculty in igniting the device, as has been encountered heretofore in the use ofcharcoal blocks which must be ignited before being placed in the censer. The grooves 10 facilitate the circulation of ,air under and around the'block while the block is in the censer, thus promoting combustion without causing a flame. 'y

The device may be manufactured and sold at comparatively low cost, and, in the particulars mentioned, meets an existing need. The construction may be varied within equivaient limits without departurefrom the nature and principleof the invention.

I claim l. A device of the character described comprising abody lof combustible substance having a concave upper side and a convex lower side, a series of ribs rising integrally from the concave upper side of and spreading ig-l nition of said body, and an ignition device embedded near the center of said body and adapted to be ignited by friction.

2. A device of the character described comprising a body of combustible substance having a concave upper side and a convex lower side, a series of ribs integral withand rising from the upper side 0f and Spreading ignition 0f said body, and a friction ignition 'device embedded approximately inthe center of said body and having its upper end projecting upwardly above said body.

3. A device of the character described comprising a body composed of combustible'substance having a concave upper side and a convex lower side and having a recess at the center' of its lower side and a series of grooves extending from said recess-outwardly, a series 0f ribs rising from the concave upper side of said body, and a friction ignition device embedded centrally in said body and projecting upwardly above said ribs.

GEORGE F. HEFFERNAN, JR.

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