US3028228A

US3028228A - Self-kindling charcoal briquette package

Info

Publication number: US3028228A
Application number: US7936A
Authority: US
Inventors: Merle P Chaplin
Original assignee: Diamond National Corp
Current assignee: Diamond National Corp
Priority date: 1960-02-10
Filing date: 1960-02-10
Publication date: 1962-04-03
Anticipated expiration: 1979-04-03

Description

April 3, 1962 M. P. cHAPLlN 3,028,228

SELF-KINDLING CHARCOAL BRIQUETTE PACKAGE Filed Feb. l0, 1960 2 Sheelzs-Shee'rI 1 @Mza/@Mu BY KRRL. LOCKS ATTORNEY April 3, 1962 M. P. cHAPLlN SELF-KINDLING CHARCOAL BRIQUETTE PACKAGE Filed Feb. 1o, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l NVENTOR ATTORNEY 21h@ PQQ/LV Km u).

United States Patent @ffice 3,@28223 Patented Apr. 3, 1962 3,028,228 SELF-KINDLING CHARCOAL BRIQUETTE PACKAGE Merle P. Chaplin, South Portland, Maine, assignor to Diamond National Corporation, New York, N.Y., a

corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 10, 1960, Ser. No. 7,936 10 Claims. (Cl. 44-14) This invention relates generally to an improved selfkindling charcoal briquette.

The use of charcoal `as a fuel for broiling food has fast become widespread and is rapidly increasing. Charcoal has in the past been generally packaged in relatively large bags, and it is usually a messy `and time-consu-ming task to prepare and ignite a charcoal re in a grill preparatory to cooking. Usually, the relatively small charcoal briquettes must be saturated with a kindling fuel and, `after ignition, which usually causes a relatively large `and sudden ame, the briquettes, if ignited, will eventually form a bed of coals.

In addition to the handling of charcoal briquettes, which is a relatively dirty task, la large part of the heat from the kindling fuel is dissipated into the air and serves no useful purpose. Further, the sudden flame caused during initial ignition is a potential danger to anyone near the flame and the storage of the can of kindling fuel about the home constitutes a potential fire hazard, especially to children.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a novel charcoal briquette package which generally avoids all the shortcomings of the prior art, and which is readily and economically manufactured, easily packed, handled and stored, and which is readily ignitable, and which will form `a suitable bed of coals in a ready and expeditious manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a charcoal briquette package which is self-kindling, and which will u-tilize a major portion of the kindling heat to ignite the interior of the briquette and which is susceptible to being subsequently broken up after internal ignition in order to form a suitable bed of coals.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a solid charcoal briquette of a dimension conducive to ready packing and handling with a minimum of damage during transit, and which includes interior passages forming a flue-like arrangement to insure ready combustibility of the kindling material contained therein, and which said package is wrapped with a combustible wrapper which may be punctured lat predetermined locations to form draft openings and a fuse strip for the kindling material therein.

Other objects and Ithe nature and advantages of the instant invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein:

FIGURE l is a perspective view looking in at an upper corner of the novel briquette package;

FIGURE 2 is Ia perspective view looking in at a lower comer of the briquette package;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the novel briquette package showi-ng the upper and lower block elements and kindling material removed from the co-mbustible wrapper;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged section taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged 4bottom plan view of the underside of the upper block element of the package; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken sub stantially on line 6 6 of FIGURE 5. Referring to the drawings in detail, a charcoal briquette 24 -to Iform lateral passages therein.

package is indicated generally at 10, the preferred embodiment of the pack-age disclosing it to be rectangularly shaped and including a combustible outer Wrapper 12 of any suitable material, which includes on the upper surface 14 land spaced about the peripheral side edge 16 punoturable portions for insuring a proper draft through the block after it has been ignited. Formed on the bottom 18 of the package is a serrated tear strip 20 which will be torn along three sides to form a suitable fuse to ignite a kindling material contained within the block as will subsequently be described in detail.

The block will be constructed of any suitable charcoal material suitably bound together to form the rectangular configuration disclosed. The block comprises a body member indicated generally at 22 including an upper block element 24 and a lower block element 26. Sandwiched in between the

block elements

24 and 26 is a reotangularly conformed kindling material 28 which may be saturated with a suitable fuel mixture if desired.

The lower block element 26 includes a relatively flat bottom 30 having depending from the corners thereof a suitable foot portion 32. In order to utilize all o-f the heat provided in combustion of the charcoal briquette, if desired, the underside 30 of the lower block element 26 may have secured thereto a sheet of heat reflecting material, such as aluminum foil 34, for example.

Extending through the bottom 30 of the lower block element 26 is a central opening 36 which is in alignment with the tear strip 20 of the wrapper 12.

Formed in the upper surface of the lower block element 26 and inwardly of the side edges thereof is a rectangular groove 38 which is intersected by lateral groove portions `40 opening into the outside of the block element. The grooves 40 are not as deep as the groove 38 and, as will become apparent, will cooperate with complementary groove portions of the upper block element Extending diagonally of the corners of the groove 38 are radial passage portions 42 which communicate with the central opening 36. The passage portions 32 are `of substantially the same depth as the lateral passage portions 4t). Disposed at right langles to the sides of the rectangular groove 38 and in between adjacent `diagonal grooves 42, are groove portions 44 which extend angularly from the groove 38 down toward the bottom 30 of the block element. Extending about the outer edge of the block element 26 is an undercut portion 46 forming shoulder portions 48 to receive thereon a mating portion of the block element 24 as will subsequently be described.

Block 24 will be described by utilizing primed reference characters to designate portions which overlie or which are complementary to similar portions of the lower block element 26.

The upper Ablock element 24 includes a solid recessed portion 36' which will overlie the central opening 36 of the lower block, the recessed portion 36 being substantially rectangular and communicating by means of diagonally disposed radial passage portion 42 with a rectangular inwardly disposed groove portion 38. Ihe groove portion 38 communicates with the outer side edges of block element 24 by means of lateral passage portions 40', and communicates with the recessed portion 36 by means of right angularly ldisposed passage portions 44. It will be noted that the groove portion 38 and passage portions 44 are considerably wider and deeper than groove portion 38 and passage portions 44 of the lower block element, which they respectively overlie, see FIGURE 4, and the passage portions 44 are inclined upwardly from the recessed portion 36 to the groove portion 38.

Extending transversely through the upper surface of the block element 24 and the groove 38', radial passage portions 42', recessed portion 36 and passage portions 44', are apertures or vertical passages 5d which insure the proper movement of exhaust gases from the interior of the briquette, it being noted that the openings 52 at each of the corners of the groove 38 are of a slightly larger diameter than the passages 5t). This expedient would permit the package to ignite properly without all of the vertical passages being punctured during initial ignition. However, it is readily apparent that as many of the passages as are required may be punctured in order to insure proper circulation and combustion of the briquette.

The block element 24 is undercut at 46 to receive the shoulder 48 of the lower block element 26 therein and to prevent relative lateral movement between the block elements.

The ignition material or kindling element 28 is rectangularly conformed and may comprise a readily inammable paper pulp material which, if desired, may be impregnated or saturated with a readily inflammable fuel. The element 28 includes rectangularly disposed side ribs S4 of substantially the same dimension as the groove 38 and, as clearly seen in FIGURE 4, will lie in the groove 38 and intermediately Vof the groove 38. The side rail or rib 54 is connected to a cross-shaped portion 56 which comprises legs which will be disposed in the overlying portions 44, 44', it being noted that the portions 44 extend a substantial extent over the upper surface of the legs 56. Legs 56 are connected to a rectangular portion 58 centrally aperture at 60 to insure a good draft through the overlying vertical passage 50. It will be noted that the inner edges of the passage portions 44 afford a considerable space beneath the legs 56 so that sutlicient air will be provided for combustion of the legs 56. In addition, considerable space is provided above the legs 56 and side ribs 54 to insure ignition of the upper block element 24.

As previously mentioned, the package initially comes in the condition disclosed in FIGURES l and 2, and when it is desired to start the charcoal nre utilizing the briquette of the invention, the tear strip 20 is torn `and ignited after the

vertical passage portions

50 and 52 and portions of the wrapper overlying the lateral passage `-

portions

40, 40 have been punctured. Prior to this time, the

charcoal block elements

24, 26 have been protected in the wrapper l2 and the users vhands will not be soiled to any considerable extent. Igniting of Vthe tear strip 2t) results in the igniting of the kindling element 28, it being noted that air will be available in the

diagonal passage portions

42, 42 as well as from the lateral pa-

ssage portions

40, 40. All of the heat of the kindling element 28 will be utilized within the lateral passage portions of the block element to ignite the block elements of the briquette and exhaust gases may readily escape through the

vertical passages

50, 52. Although the wrapper 12 is combustible, its burning is not intended to have the primary function of igniting the briquette but when it is burning it will aid in igniting the `outer surfaces of the block elements. Additionally, inasmuch vas the foot elements 32 raise the lower 4surface of the block element 26 o'of a support surface, air may move readily beneath the block element 39 to the central `opening 36.

Further, the heat reflecting material 34 will reflect the heat upwardly after a bed of coals had been prepared. Still further, after the briquette is ignited from within, various lateral passage portions will provide Weakened sections in the block elements to facilitate the breaking of the block elements, especially the upper block element, in order to spread the coals around and provide a sufciently large area of coals.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variouschanges may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and, therefore, the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as to the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A charcoal briquette product comprising a body member including a top, bottom and peripheral side edge portions, a plurality of lateral passage portions intermediately of said top and bottom portions and opening into said peripheral side edge portions, a plurality of vertical passage portions opening into said top portion and cornmunicating with said lateral passage portions, at least one central opening extending through said bottom portion and communicating with said lateral passage'V portions, readily inflammable integral kindling means interposed in certain of said lateral passage portions between said central opening and certain of said vertical passage portions for initially igniting within said briquette product, said lateral and vertical passage portions deningweak cned sections lin said briquette product for facilitating the breaking up Yof said product after linternal ignition to form `a bed of discrete charcoal portions, said body merri-y ber 'comprising a pair of juxtaposed, integral and sepa# rate upper'and lower block elements having mating por tions for "orienting the same'with respect to each other, each of said block elements including complementary overlying grooves forming said lateral passage portions and confining said integral kindling means therein, said upper block element including said vertical passage portions therein, and said lower block element including said central opening, and means retaining said briquette product upper and lower block elements and said integral kindling means in the form of an integral unit.

2. The charcoal briquette product of claim l wherein said block elements are rectangular in configuration, said lateral passage portions comprise a plurality of radially extending passages originating from said central open ing, a peripheral, rectangularly conformed groove pori tion including an intermediate cross-shaped portion hatla ing a leg between each adjacent radial passage, said crossshaped portion intersecting said central opening, said readily inammable kindling means conforming to the shape of said peripheral, rectangular groove and cross-Y shaped'portions and having a central portion overlying said central opening.

3. The charcoal briquette product of claim 1 wherein said lower block element includes foot portions on the underside thereof to raise the lower surface of the briJ quette product off a support surface to insure the movea ment of air toisaid central opening.

4 The charcoal briquette product of claim 1 wherein said lower block element includes a sheet of heat-reflectJ ing material on the under surface thereof, and said means retaining the briquette product as a unit comprises a combustible cover enclosing said body and heat-V reecting material, said combustible cover comprising a tear-strip adjacent said central opening in said lower block element and forming a fuse to ignite said kindling means within the briquette product.

5. The charcoal briquette product of claim 1 wherein said means retaining the briquette product as a unit comprises a combustible wrapper on said body member, said wrapper including a tear-strip beneath said central opening of the lower block to provide a fuse to initially ignite saidkindling means, and a plurality of penetrable portions overlying certain of said vertical passage portions to insure a good draft through the interior of said block.

6. The charcoal briquette product of claim 2 wherein said rectangularlyconformed groove and cross-shaped portion of said lateral passage portions having a greater cross-sectional dimension than said radially extending passage portions, said kindling means comprising an integrally formed inflammable element being impregnated with an inflammable fuel, said upper block including a central recessed portion overlying the central portion of said kindling means, the rectangularly conformed groove portion of said upper block element being spaced sub'- stantially above the kindling means and the leg portions of said upper block element being disposed a substantial 5 distance above the underlying portions of the kindling means.

7. The charcoal briquette product of claim 2 wherein said means retaining said brique-tte product as a unit comprises a combustible wrapper on said body member, said wrapper including a tear-strip beneath said central opening of the lower block to provide a fuse to initially ignite said kindling means, and a plurality of penetrable portions overlying certain of said vertical passage por tions to insure a good draft through the interior of said block.

8. The charcoal briquette product of claim 3 wherein said means retaining said briquette product as a unit cornprises a combustible Wrapper on said body member, said wrapper including a tear-strip beneath said central opening of the lower block to provide a fuse to initially ignite said kindling means, and a plurality of penetrable portions overlying certain of said vertical passage portions to insure a good draft through the interior of said block.

9. The charcoal briquette product of claim 6 wherein said means retaining said briquette product as a unit comprises a combustible wrapper on said body member, said wrapper including a tear-strip beneath said central open- 6 ing of the lower block to provide a fuse to initially ignite said kindling means, and a plurality oi penetrable portions overlying certain of said vertical passage portions to insure a good draft through the interior of said block.

10. The charcoal briquette product of claim 6 wherein said kindling means being substantially planar, said crossshaped portions of said lateral passages portions being inclined upwardly from the central opening in said lower block element and extending angularly with respect to the lgeneral plane of said kindling means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 214,467 Stoker Apr. 15, 1879 829,072 Hill Aug. 21, 1906 1,401,803 Lynes Dec. 27, 1921 2,398,508 Shoemaker Apr. 16, 1946 2,834,661 Chaplin May 13, 1958 2,933,378 Mustin et al. Apr. 19, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 5,697 Great'Britain Feb. 1, 1890

Claims

1. A CHARCOAL BRIQUETTE PRODUCT COMPRISING A BODY MEMBER INCLUDING A TOP BOTTOM AND PERIPHERAL SIDE EDGE PORTIONS, A PLURALITY OF LATERAL PASSAGE PORTIONS INTETMEDIATELY OF SAID TOP AND BOTTOM PORTIONS AND OPENING INTO SAID PERIPHERAL SIDE EDGE PORTIONS , A PLURALITY OF VERTICAL PASSAGE PORTIONS OPENING INTO SAID TOP PORTION AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID LATERAL PASSAGE PORTIONS, AT LEAST ONE CENTRAL OPENING EXTENDING THROUGH SAID BOTTOM PORTION AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID LATERAL PASSAGE PORTIONS, READILY INFLAMMABLE INTEGRAL KINDLING MEANS INTERPOSED IN CERTAIN OF SAID LATERAL PASSAGE PORTIONS BETWEEN SAID CENTRAL OPENING AND CERTAIN OF SAID VERTICAL PASSAGE PORTIONS FOR INITIALLY IGNITING WIHTHIN SAID BRIQUETTE PRODUCT, SAID LATERAL AND VERTICAL PASSAGE PORTIONS DEFINING WEAKENED SECTIONS IN SAID BRIQUETTE PRODUCT FOR FACILITATING THE BREAKING UP OF SAID PRODUCT AFTER INTERNAL IGNITION TO FORM A BED OF DISCRETE CHARCOAL PORTIONS, SAID BODY MEMBER COMPRISING A PAIR OF JUXTAPOSEDF, INTEGRAL AND SEPARATE UPPER AND LOWER BLOCK ELEMENTS HAVING MATING PORTIONS FOR ORIENTING THE SAME RESPECT TO EACH OTHER, EACH OF SAID BLOCK ELEMENTS INCLUDING COMPLEMENTARY OVERLYING GROOVES FORMING SAID LATERAL PASSAGE PORTIONS AND CONFINING SAID INTEGRAL KINDLING MEANS THEREIN, SAID UPPER BLOCK ELEMENT INCLUDING SAID VERTICAL PASSAGE PORTIONS THERERIN, AND SAID LOWER BLOCK ELEMENT INCLUDING SAID CENTRAL OPENING, AND LOWER BLOCK ELEMENTS AND SAID INTEGRAL UCT UPPER AND LOWER BLOCK ELEMENTS AND SAID INTEGRAL KINDLING MEANS IN THE FORM OF AN INTEGRAL UNIT.