US20030147566A1

US20030147566A1 - Disposable ash container

Info

Publication number: US20030147566A1
Application number: US10/066,001
Authority: US
Inventors: Brent Brocking
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-02-02
Filing date: 2002-02-02
Publication date: 2003-08-07

Abstract

A newly designed disposable ash container comprising: a base panel, a back panel, two side panels, a top panel and a open panel made from a blank of sheet material of which the inside of the container is of a noncombustible material for receiving and retaining hot embers and ash and the outside being conducive to advertising matter which is foldable for consumer packaging and easy storage and when opened to a usable position provides a substantial side opening in which to deposit ash from a fireplace and stove having an apron to catch falling ash and to cooperate in an air tight closing of the open panel securing ash for safe and clean disposal.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a fireplace and stove ash container, more specifically to a fireplace and stove disposable ash container for receiving and disposing of ash removed from a fireplace and stove and more specifically to a disposable ash container made from a blank of noncombustible sheet material providing for safe and clean disposal.

The use of an ash receptacles is known in the prior art. More specifically, ash receptacles heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of retaining ashes are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.

By way of example, the prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,106 to Davis discloses a barbecue grill and fireplace ash cradle assembly. U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,046 to Colla discloses a portable fire pit. U.S. Pat. No. 5,694,918 to Blount discloses an ash catcher for fireplace insert. U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,212 to Stroud discloses a grill aerator and waste receptacle. U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,625 to Landman discloses an ash catcher grate. U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,476 to Rhodes, Jr. discloses an artificial log assembly including combustible log members. U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,832 to Schlosser and Alden discloses an ash catcher assembly for a barbecue grill. U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,874 to Toth discloses a fireplace grate with adjustable ash pan. U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,640 to Shnack and Wilson discloses a barbecue grill ash collector. U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,648 to Blount, Exum, and Wooten discloses an ash catcher for an outside cooker or similar article. U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,123 to Mortensen, discloses a receptacle for ash removal. U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,308 to Johnson discloses an ash receptacle with dust eliminator. U.S. Pat. No. 4,328,895 to Jaeger discloses a disposable ash container. U.S. Pat. No. 3,561,670 to Segal discloses ashtrays and like smokers receptacles. U.S. Pat. No. 3,133,690 to Lui discloses a receptacle. U.S. Pat. No. 3,122,306 to Davey discloses a receptacle. U.S. Pat. No. 3,082,713 to Elgin discloses a fire resistant pac. U.S. Pat. No. 2,432,656 to Cook discloses a paper envelope ash receiver. U.S. Pat. No. 2,377,665 to Best discloses a fireplace ash pan. U.S. Pat. No. 2,292,377 to Howard discloses a folding grate. U.S. Pat. No. 1,521,204 to Rollings discloses a grate. U.S. Pat. No. 960,174 to Higdon discloses an ash pan. U.S. Pat. No. 639,392 to Lotspeich discloses an ash pan. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 382,956 to Collins discloses a fireplace ash pan. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 355,566 to Stephen and Schlosser discloses a combined leg support and ash catcher for an outdoor cooker.

In this respect, the disposable ash container according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a means for receiving and retaining ash from a fireplace and stove for safe and clean disposal.

Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved disposable ash container which can be used for providing a means for receiving and retaining ash from a fireplace and stove for safe and clean disposal. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

In View of the forgoing disadvantages inherent in the know types of ash receptacles now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved disposable ash container assembly. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved disposable ash container for safe and clean disposal of ash which has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of ensuing description and drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention a disposable ash container for receiving and retaining ash from a fireplace and stove providing for safe and clean disposal. It is therefore the general objective of the present invention to create a cheaply made, single-use disposable ash container.

Furthermore, the disposable ash container of the present invention is to be tightly closed in the area of its opening, so that any remaining burning embers will be snuffed out due to the lack of oxygen inside the container, and neither smoke nor ash will be able to escape from the container.

The present invention consists of a container for receiving and retaining ash from burned material in a fireplace and stove which is especially intended for one-time use, and is constructed in the manner of a flat-bottom bag. This flat-bottom bag consists of plastically and preferable laminated pliable sheet material which is substantially impermeable to air, and which has a material surface, at least on the sides adjacent the interior of the bag, which is substantially resistant to the heat of glowing embers.

The form and the manner in which the bag is made is not critical for the invention; conventional bags of various types, such as flat bottom-bags with side gussets are known in the art and are fundamentally suitable, in which at least two side panels are laid tightly against one another adjacent the top edge and can be folded together to form the closure in accordance with the present invention. The material of the bag is pliable, so that the side panels can be folded.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a strip a self-sticking adhesive is applied to the outside of the top panel. This adhesive strip can be provided with a removable strip of protective material to prevent it from drying out.

Although the present invention is not limited to a particular kind of bag or its preparation, so that basically, any kind of bag, e.g., bags made in one piece or in a plurality of pieces and having rectangular or polygonal bottoms, flat bags, and even tubular bags can be used, the bag form after manufacture should be such that the bag can be folded flat in a space-savings manner, so that the bags of the present invention can be offered to the consumer in compact packages containing a plurality of bags.

The exposed surfaces of the container and at least the outer top panel thereof when positioned for use, may conveniently carry advertising matter so that, in addition to its utility, its inexpensive construction, safe, clean, and easy disposability, the container constitutes a useful advertising medium.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a detailed view of a folded disposable ash container. [0015]
FIG. 2 is a detailed view of an unfolded disposable ash container in a usable position. [0016]
FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a closed disposable ash container.[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings of FIGS. [0018] 1-3, FIG. 1 illustrates a view of a disposable ash container 10, folded in the same manner as flat bottom paper sacks in common use consisting of a rectangular base panel 12, and a cooperating top panel 14, two side panels 18, having slanted ends, a back panel 16, and a open front panel 20. The two side panels 18, and top panel 14, have folding creases 22, to provide for back panel 16, cooperating with top panel 14, and base panel 12, in the folded position. Base panel 12, has a folding crease 22, providing for apron 32, to be folded on top of top panel 14, for the purpose of providing a substantially air tight closing of open front panel 20.
The [0019] disposable ash container 10, is conveniently made from a shaped blank with the top panel 14, integral with the side panels 18, which are in turn integral with portions which are overlapped and joined to form the base panel 12, and its extensions to form the back panel 16.
[0020] Top panel 14, is shorter in length at the open end of the disposable ash container 10, to the cooperating base panel 12, the two side panels 18, are of the same length as the base panel 12, and slant upward to be of the same length as the top panel 14. A band of adhesive 24, which is normally covered with a protective strip 26, is positioned on the top panel 14, just in from the outer open edge.
[0021] Base panel 12, FIG. 2 extended length provides for an apron 32, at the open front panel 20, to catch spilled ash while filling the disposable ash container 10. When the ash removal is completed, the protective strip 26, is removed from the band of adhesive 24, base panel 12, and cooperating top panel 14, FIG. 3 are pressed together closing the container's open front panel 20, providing for the apron 32, to be folded on top of cooperating top panel 14, to be secured by the band of adhesive 24, providing for a substantially are tight closing of open front panel 20.
Preferable the [0022] disposable ash container 10, is made of two-ply sheet material of which the only ply a, which is on the inside, is made of material such as metal foil, heat resistant plastics material web and other noncombustible sheet material, while the other ply b, is paper but equally well the container may be made wholly of noncombustible materials such as metal foil and heat resistant plastics material.
In use the [0023] disposable ash container 10, is opened out from its normal flat fold state FIG. 1 to a useable position shown in FIG. 2. Ash and debris removed from a fireplace and stove by means of an ash removal tool is placed inside the disposable as container 10, through the open front panel 20. After completing the ash removal the disposable ash container 10, open front panel 20, is tightly closed so that embers that may still be burning will be snuffed out due to the lack of oxygen inside the disposable ash container 10, and neither smoke or ash will be able to escape from the disposable ash container 10, providing for safe and clean disposal FIG. 3.
I do not limit myself to any particular details of construction set forth in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as the same refers to and sets forth only the embodiments of the invention, and it is observed that the same may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. [0024]

Claims

Having thus described the invention, what I claimed as new and desired to be secured by letters patent is as follows:

1. A disposable ash container for receiving and retaining ash made from a blank of sheet material of which at least the inside of said disposable ash container is a noncombustible material and the outside of said disposable ash container conducive to advertising mater comprising a top panel integral with two side panels which are in turn integral with portions which are overlapped and joined to form a base panel and panel extensions joined to form a back panel directly opposite a open front panel, said base panel extending beyond said top panel at said open front panel end, having said two side panels of substantially the same length slant upward to be of substantially the same length as said top panel, said base panel able to support said disposable ash container in an open position on a surface, said two side panels, said top panel, and said base panel having folding creases providing a folding means for said disposable ash container to be in a collapsed position, said two side panels, said top panel, and said base panel having said folding creases providing an unfolding means for opening said ash container from a collapsed position so as to be in a usable position, said two side panels, said top panel, and said base panel having said folding creases providing a substantially air tight closing means for said open front panel whereby ash is retained in said disposable ash container for safe and clean disposal.